pacificorp stakeholders meet today 010809

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PacifiCorp, stakeholders to meet today

Herald and News by Ty Beaver, 1/8/09

Water stakeholders are expected to meet with PacifiCorp officials in Portland today and Friday to nail down what must be done to remove four dams on the Klamath River.

Some irrigators from on and off the Klamath Reclamation Project are scheduled to meet a U.S. Department of the Interior official today as well, though it’s unclear what will be discussed in that meeting.

Greg Addington, executive director of Klamath Water Users Association, said those involved in crafting the Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement are updating time elements in the document as well as how it would work with a dam removal effort.

The agreement would allocate water among irrigators, environmentalists, tribal interests and fisheries in the Klamath River Basin.

Priorities include determining what studies are needed to determine if dams should be removed and drafting a final removal agreement.

“As usual, there’s a lot of work to be done,” Addington said.

Tom Mallams, who represents the Klamath Off-Project Water Users, said he was not aware of a meeting with PacifiCorp. He said it was common knowledge that those groups not actively supporting the restoration agreement would be excluded from future meetings.

Mallams’ group and others have cited numerous concerns with the restoration agreement, from lack of assurances for water and power to providing land to the Klamath Tribes.

The off-Project irrigator said he plans to attend the meeting with the Interior official today, but he said he did not know what it would include.

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www.heraldandnews.com

Meeting today with PacifiCorp

Herald and News 1/9/09

Stakeholders involved with the Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement met in Portland Thursday with representatives of PacifiCorp and are expected to meet again today.
   Discussions are expected to focus on developing a final agreement to remove four hydroelectric dams on the Klamath River and how that would mesh with a final restoration agreement.
   One stakeholder says he was optimistic about progress on the agreements, though a spokeswoma n for G ov. Ted Kulongosk i, who has staff working with stakeholders, says there is no new news on where things are going.
   “They’re just starting to meet again,” Jillian Schoene said.