Iron Gate, a dam near Hornbrook, Calif., that has blocked salmon migration for decades may be blasted down by 2020. Iron Gate is one of four dams on the Klamath that have been proposed for removal in interest of the public and the fish. The removal of the dams owned by Pacificorp could cost up to $450 million, and would cause a loss of 80 megawatts of clean power, which the dams currently produce, but this is a small price to pay when compared to the damage these dams are currently causing to Klamath River flow and the natural habitats it provides.
Now it must be decided whether or not the Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement (KBRA) and the Klamath Hydroelectric Settlement Agreement (KHSA) serve the public interest in the Klamath River and Klamath salmon. I, as well as many others concerned with the issue, believe Congressman Mike Thompson should hold hearings in our district near the Klamath to hear what the people have to say before drafting legislation. It is now up to we the people to give our district representative Mike Thompson our input on the issue.
Please voice your opinion concerning the Klamath River dam situation by contacting the 1st District Representative Mike Thompson at: http://mikethompson.house.gov/contact/email.shtml.
Zac Shamel
Fortuna