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It’s one small step for the Klamath Basin
Removal of
Chiloquin Dam says agreements are possible
Klamath Falls Herald
and News Editorial
September 3, 2008
Along with the practical value of removing Chiloquin Dam comes some symbolism.
On the practical side, removal of the 84-year-old dam on the Sprague River at Chiloquin opened up 80 miles of spawning area for endangered sucker species. On the symbolic side, it showed that even people who had long been at odds could agree on something as potentially divisive as removing a dam.
The decision to take out Chiloquin Dam came well in advance of the proposed Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement, but in a small way might be considered a precursor to the much more far reaching Basin proposal.
We’re not pretending that removal of Chiloquin Dam, which was completed last month, means eventual removal of four Klamath River dams. There are some big differences. Chiloquin Dam, owned by a small irrigation district, was tiny and used only for irrigation. The Klamath River dams, owned by PacifiCorp, are huge in comparison and produce electricity. The considerations involved are different.
Nor does taking out Chiloquin Dam mean that an overall agreement upon the Klamath River’s future settling most of the major issues will be reached — though we hope it will be. But the dam’s removal is evidence that once-contentious opponents can reach agreement on some issues.
The Chiloquin Dam and the Klamath River dams are linked by their common connection to natural resources, fish and the health of the Klamath River.
It took years and years for the work to go forward to remove this small dam on the Sprague River — 190 feet wide, 11 feet high and far smaller than any one of the four Klamath River Dams.
So for now we’ll take removal of Chiloquin Dam simply for what it is at its most basic level — more spawning area for an endangered fish species which should increase the numbers of the fish and relieve some of the pressure on Upper Klamath Basin water users. But we hope it shows that bigger things are possible.
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