Our Klamath Basin Water Crisis
Upholding rural Americans' rights to grow food,
own property, and caretake our wildlife and natural resources.

http://www.siskiyoudaily.com/news/x1692326683/County-We-have-not-approved-dam-removal

County: We have not approved dam removal

by Dale Andreasen, Siskiyou Daily News 10/8/09

Yreka, Calif. - The Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the release of a statement during Tuesday’s meeting clarifying its position concerning the recently released draft Klamath Hydroelectric Settlement Agreement.

“The Board of Supervisors wishes to emphasize to the citizens of this County that there has been no pre-commitment to sign this document,” the statement said.

“This document is the product of a process in which the County of Siskiyou did not have a right of veto and, accordingly, there are things in the draft document which may or may not be acceptable,” the statement continued.

The draft Hydro Settlement Agreement was released Sept. 30. The full text and a summary can be viewed online at www.doi.gov by scrolling about two-thirds down the page and clicking on the headline.

According to the document’s introduction, “The Parties have entered into this Settlement for the purpose of resolving among them the pending FERC relicensing proceeding by establishing a process for potential Facilities Removal and operation of the Project until that time.”

The hydro agreement and the proposed Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement together would manage the possible removal of four dams on the Klamath River owned by PacifiCorp and attempt to revitalize the basin’s salmon fishery.

The agreements have been negotiated over a period of several years by federal, state and county governments, tribal groups, irrigators and various non-governmental organizations.

The complete statement by the board regarding the agreement is printed in today’s Daily News.
County counsel Tom Guarino said the county voted to release the hydro agreement “so the public can be informed.”

Guarino said there will be meetings to discuss the agreement and take public input on Nov. 12 and 13. The time and location of the meetings will be announced “at the earliest opportunity.”

“We have received lots of comments on the hydro agreement,” said supervisor Jim Cook, “Some believe that this means dam removal will be done. This is erroneous. We are looking forward to full and open discussions. In the past, many of these meetings have not been full and open.”

“I would like to emphasize that the county has not approved dam removal,” said supervisor Marcia Armstrong.

“Impacts to the county must be addressed,” said supervisor Grace Bennett.

“We are still engaged,” added supervisor Ed Valenzuela.

“Citizens need to be aware,” stressed board chair Michael Kobseff, “that, without the efforts of the county, these matters would not be full and open.”

STATEMENT OF THE SISKIYOU COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS REGARDING DRAFT FINAL HYDRO AGREEMENT

The board of supervisors voted unanimously to release the following statement during its regular meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 6:

“The Board of Supervisors has recently received a copy of the draft Final Hydro Agreement. Pursuant to our policy of advocating for transparency in this process, we are making this document immediately available for public review.

“This is a complex document that we will be reviewing over the next few weeks. We anticipate scheduling a public meeting specifically to discuss this matter in late October or early November and will announce the date, time and location at the earliest opportunity.

“The Board of Supervisors wishes to emphasize to the citizens of this County that there has been no pre-commitment to sign this document. However, the Board of Supervisors will be reviewing this document and taking public input regarding the proposal to study the removal of the hydroelectric facilities on the Klamath River.

“This document is the product of a process in which the County of Siskiyou did not have a right of veto and, accordingly, there are things in the draft document which may or may not be acceptable.

“We view this as a work in progress and welcome the opportunity to discuss these issues openly with the citizens of Siskiyou County.”