Over 40 people attending a public hearing in Sacramento on October 29 delivered a resounding message to state water officials: don't give PacifiCorp a section 401 clean water permit needed to relicense its fish-killing dams on the Klamath River.

A diverse group including members of the Hoopa Valley, Yurok, Karuk, Quartz Valley, Winnemem Wintu and Miwok Tribes, recreational anglers, commercial fishermen and environmental activists spoke passionately about the poor quality of the water on the river and the need to remove the dams before the staff of the California State Water Resources Control Board. Not one person spoke in favor of granting PacifiCorp a permit!

The scoping meeting held in Sacramento on October 29th was sparsely attended by water board staff and their hired consultant from Entrix, Inc. Tam Doduc, the chair of the board, showed up to hear comments about halfway through the meeting.

Daina Colegove, a member of the Hoopa Valley Tribe and board member of the Klamath Riverkeeper, presented a big bottle filled with toxic blue green algae that she gathered from behind Iron Gate Dam as a "gift" to the board.

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