Klamath River Tribal Press Release: One Step Closer to Dam Removal

PacifiCorp Willing to give up the lower four Klamath River Dams if Customers Protected

Portland, OR - For the past several years, Klamath Basin Tribes have appealed to PacifiCorp to remove their Klamath River dams. The Tribes and their allies argue that the dams deny salmon access to over 350 miles of historic spawning habitat, heat the river to temperatures lethal to salmon, and provide habitat for massive blooms of toxic blue algae. “These negative impacts of these dams clearly justify their removal,” states Howard McConnell, Chairman of the Yurok Tribe.

Now under new management, the company is starting to listen. This morning PacifiCorp Energy President William Fehrman released a statement that concluded by stating, “We have heard the Tribes’ concerns. We are not opposed to dam removal or other settlement opportunities as long as our customers are not harmed and our property rights are respected.” (For the entire statement look under “news and information”at http://www.pacificorp.com.)

The Klamath River has been the poster child for ecological collapse since the now infamous fish kill of 2002 left 68,000 adult salmon dead. Since then, Tribes, conservation groups, fishermen, farmers, and now PacifiCorp, have been working on solutions to what has metastasized into a major problem for the entire West Coast.

“This year’s west coast fisheries closures were mandated to protect struggling Klamath River salmon runs. It’s costing the states of Oregon and California millions in lost revenues and many fishermen their jobs,” explains Scott Boley fishermen and member of the Oregon Salmon Council.

For Tribes, the disaster is more than economic. “We consider salmon to be our relations. They are part of our cultural identity. What’s more, many of my people still fish to feed themselves and their families,” explains Leaf Hillman, Vice Chairman of the Karuk Tribe.

Other Tribes have suffered even greater losses. “We have not fished for salmon for over 88 years when the first ladder-less dam was built,” says Allen Foreman, Chairman of the Klamath Tribes, Oregon’s largest. “Now we have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to remove these dams and bring our salmon home.”

Although no agreement has been signed, the Tribes, fishermen, and conservation organizations are all encouraged by the company’s statements. “By working with us on this visionary restoration effort, PacifiCorp could become a model for corporate responsibility,” adds Foreman.

Yurok Tribal Chairman Howard McConnell expressed guarded optimism as well. “We are seeing positive momentum on the issue of dam removal,” he said, “and Mr. Fehrman’s latest comments are very encouraging. The next step is to pair action with words. The Yurok Tribe will work closely with all parties in the basin to achieve our long-term goal of a free-flowing river and a restored fishery.”

Many details remain to reach a final removal plan, not the least of which is the need for funding and equitable compensation for PacifiCorp. Currently Tribes, PacifiCorp, Klamath water users and a host governmental agencies and non-governmental organizations are working to hammer out a final deal. “We will need help from our elected officials including Governor Kulongoski,” says Foreman. Tribal leaders hope the state can provide PacifiCorp with incentives such as tax credits for developing renewable power sources such as wind and biomass.

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For more information and previous press releases go to http://www.karuk.us/press%20&%20campaigns/press.php