Northcoast Environmental Center Rejects Klamath Settlement Deal

After negotiating for years, the Northcoast Environmental Center today announced that it will not sign the Klamath Hydroelectric Settlement Agreement (KHSA).

Jay Wright, Klamath Campaign Coordinator for the NEC, explained the
"The NEC appreciates the considerable effort that has gone into crafting the KHSA, but we cannot agree to several provisions of the document - including linkage to the Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement (KBRA). The NEC believes linking dam removal to the controversial and costly KBRA would unduly burden Klamath dam removal legislation."

"The Klamath Hydro Deal fails to compel PacifiCorp, the States of Oregon and California, or the federal government to commit to dam removal now; it leaves too many pre-conditions and off-ramps along the path to potential dam removal in 2020. Nothing in the deal places a limit on the number of annual license renewals PacifiCorp can obtain without obtaining clean water certification," Wright said.

NEC Board member Scott Greacen pointed out that the KHSA relies upon California voters passing a controversial $11 billion water bond next November. That bond measure includes $250 million for Klamath dam removal. Another $200 million for dam removal would come from Pacificorp's Oregon and California electric customers.

Greacen laments, “Though we strongly support dam removal on the Klamath, the water bond that will go before the voters is full of provisions that northern California conservationists are certain to oppose – including funding for additional dams statewide." He said the NEC is working with partners in Oregon and California to press for more immediate and more certain dam removal.

The NEC and its partners look to North Coast Congressman Mike Thompson to listen to their call for a firm commitment to dam removal and a shorter time-line. "Klamath salmon are on the ropes," said the NEC's Wright, "they can't wait until 2020 for the water quality improvement dam removal will bring."