Top Scientists Endorse Klamath Restoration Agreement: Endorsement Reverses Previous Criticism of Dam Removal Plan

May 14, 2008. Arcata, CA – Today the Klamath Settlement Group (KSG) released a summary of a recent science workshop and letters from top scientists indicating support for the pending Klamath Restoration Agreement. The scientists, under contract to the North Coast Environmental Center, had previously raised concerns that the Restoration Agreement provided for inadequate dry year flows for the Klamath River and inadequate protections against excessive groundwater use.

The KSG has been negotiating for over two years on the fate of four antiquated dams on the Klamath River that play a fundamental role in the decline of Pacific salmon and lead to massive blooms of toxic algae while offering little benefit in the form of energy production or flood control. The KSG also tackled the contentious issue of water management in the Klamath Basin.

In January, the KSG released a draft Restoration Agreement contingent on the removal of the lower four Klamath dams. The Agreement includes plans to balance water use between fisheries and agricultural interests, reintroduce salmon to the Upper Klamath Basin, and provide affordable replacement power for farmers. Although PacifiCorp has yet to sign on to the agreement, many KSG members remain cautiously optimistic that an agreement can be reached with PacifiCorp in the near term.

As the KSG neared completion of the draft agreement, the North Coast Environmental Center (NEC), hired several consultants to review the Agreement. Citing concerns raised by the consultants, NEC announced its opposition to the Agreement in March.

In response to the concerns voiced by NEC, the KSG sponsored a science meeting in which scientists from the NEC, Tribes, and governmental agencies compared notes and worked to reach a common understanding of what the Agreement means for river flows and fish habitat.

In the wake of the meeting and revisions to the agreement, two of NEC consultants now voice support for the Agreement. Thus far, NEC has not retracted their opposition.

Dr. Thomas Hardy, a leading expert in Klamath River fisheries and hydrology, wrote, “The opportunity for open discussion provided during the science meetings on April 10th and 11th were also very helpful and served to reinforce my opinion to support the [proposed] settlement agreement.”

Greg Kamman, consultant to the NEC who criticized the agreement also had his concerns addressed. Mr. Kamman wrote, “If asked if I would support the Agreement as currently written, I would do so.”

The number of supporters for the Agreement is growing. Last week, the cities of Merill, Malin, Chiloquin, Oregon along with Tulelake, CA voted to endorse the agreement.

“The more closely scientists look at the Agreement, the better they like it. The Karuk Tribe is content to let the best available science be the guide for solving the Klamath Crisis and we expect others to do the same,” said Leaf Hillman, Vice-chair of the Karuk Tribe.

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Editor’s notes: A summary of the science meeting along with the letters form Dr. Hardy, Greg Kamman and the Hoopa Valley Tribe are available at http://karuk.us/press/press.php or by emailing a request to ctucker@karuk.us

S. Craig Tucker, Ph.D.
Klamath Campaign Coordinator
Karuk Tribe of California
NEW NUMBER home office: 707-839-1982
Tribal office in Orleans: 530-627-3446 x3027
cell: 916-207-8294
ctucker@karuk.us

www.karuk.us