At NSIA we are very excited that the stakeholders on the Klamath River have received a much-needed boost towards their agreement to remove the four lower dams on the river that block salmon from returning to large sections of their native range. The State of Oregon, the State of California, PacifiCorp, and the U.S. Government, by way of the U.S. Department of the Interior, announced Tuesday that there was an agreement-in-principal to move forward on reworking a water usage agreement that includes dam removal. This is a major step in the right direction to restore the river and protect jobs for farmers and fishers.
Late last year, the Klamath restoration deal hit a huge setback when Congress failed to pass a bill that would make the Klamath agreements official. Unfortunately, after years of work by more than 40 invested organizations to come up with a locally-crafted compromise plan for water usage on the river, Congress let the deal die.
Now, more than a month later, PacifiCorp says updating the dams to meet current fish passage standards would be more expensive than removing them. The utility, along with the states and the federal government, is beginning the process of reworking the Klamath Hydropower Settlement Agreement and starting on the path toward removing the fish blocking dams.
A press release Tuesday from the parties said:
“The states and the U.S. are actively working with all Klamath Basin stakeholders – Members of Congress, tribes, farmers and others – on a comprehensive resolution to restore the basin, advance the recovery of its fisheries, uphold trust responsibilities to the Tribes, and sustain the region’s farming and ranching heritage.”
NSIA is glad to see the Klamath agreements back on track, and we appreciate Secretary of the Interior, Sally Jewell’s, leadership on this issue. The Klamath produces salmon runs that support a vibrant fishery in the river and on the California and Oregon coasts. More fish from healthier returns will bolster multi-million dollar fisheries in both states, creating more job opportunities and supporting the businesses who serve recreational anglers.
Dam removal would lead to increased range for migrating fish, better habitat for smolts, cooler river temperatures, and would improve water quality overall. The Klamath was once one of the greatest salmon rivers in the continental United States.
NOW, we can start the process of healing the river and water dependent communities in the Klamath by following the locally-crafted agreement to remove the four lower dams.