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<DIV><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2>If anybody has any additional information on
this issue, please send it to me for posting, or post it to </FONT><FONT
size=2><A
href="mailto:env-trinity@crank.dcn.davis.ca.us">env-trinity@crank.dcn.davis.ca.us</A></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>This is an important issue for the Trinity River in
terms of both funding and water for fish. As we have all seen in the past,
issues on the Klamath River do affect its largest tributary, the Trinity
River.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I have not yet read enough of the information to
make up my own mind about this issue.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Respectfully submimtted,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><BR>Tom Stokely<BR>Principal Planner<BR>Trinity Co.
Planning/Natural Resources<BR>PO Box 2819<BR>60 Glen Rd.<BR>Weaverville, CA
96093-2819<BR>530-623-1351, Press 2-2-1<BR>FAX 623-1353<BR><A
href="mailto:tstokely@trinityalps.net">tstokely@trinityalps.net</A> or <A
href="mailto:tstokely@trinitycounty.org">tstokely@trinitycounty.org</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV class=Section1>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><FONT face=Arial size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Department of Water
Resources</SPAN></FONT></B><B><FONT face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on"><B><FONT face=Arial
color=blue size=7><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 36pt; COLOR: blue">California</SPAN></FONT></B></st1:State></st1:place><B><FONT
color=blue size=7><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 36pt; COLOR: blue">
Water News</SPAN></FONT></B><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=blue size=7><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 36pt; COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><I><FONT face=Arial size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-STYLE: italic">A daily
compilation of significant news articles and
comment</SPAN></FONT></I></B><B><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><FONT face=Arial size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt">January 16,
2008<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="BACKGROUND: white"><B><FONT face=Tahoma size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="BACKGROUND: white"><B><FONT face=Tahoma color=black
size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">5. Agencies, Programs,
People</SPAN></FONT></B><o:p></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><B><FONT face=Tahoma color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><st1:place w:st="on"><B><FONT face=Tahoma color=black
size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">KLAMATH
RIVER</SPAN></FONT></B></st1:place><B><FONT face=Tahoma color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">
AGREEMENT:<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><B><FONT face=Tahoma color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">Deal
on Dams on Klamath Advances - New Work Times<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><B><FONT face=Tahoma color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><B><FONT face=Tahoma size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">Groups Offer
Plan to Help <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Oregon</st1:place></st1:State> Salmon - Associated
Press<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><B><FONT face=Tahoma size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="BACKGROUND: white"><B><FONT face=Tahoma size=4><SPAN
lang=EN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">Klamath
water deal reached; </SPAN></FONT></B><B><FONT face=Tahoma size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">Tribes, farmers
and others draw up a plan to remove dams and revive dwindling salmon populations
- Los Angeles Times<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="BACKGROUND: white"><B><FONT face=Tahoma size=4><SPAN
lang=EN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></P>
<H1 style="MARGIN: 0pt"><B><FONT face=Tahoma size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">Tentative Klamath deal reached; But
it hinges on removal of four dams by a utility not included in the talks -
Sacramento Bee<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></H1>
<H1 style="MARGIN: 0pt"><B><FONT face=Tahoma size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></H1>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><B><FONT face=Tahoma size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">Klamath River
pact out of the gate - Eureka Times Standard<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><B><FONT face=Tahoma size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><FONT face=Tahoma size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">Klamath dams may
go; </SPAN></FONT></B><B><FONT face=Tahoma size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">Basin
stakeholders reach agreement to remove 4 barriers - Redding Record
Searchlight<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>
<P
style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-RIGHT: 0pt; BORDER-TOP: medium none; PADDING-LEFT: 0pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN: 0pt; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-TOP: 0pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none"><B><FONT
face=Tahoma size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></P></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><B><FONT face=Tahoma color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><st1:place w:st="on"><B><FONT face=Tahoma color=black
size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">KLAMATH
RIVER</SPAN></FONT></B></st1:place><B><FONT face=Tahoma color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">
AGREEMENT:<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><B><FONT face=Tahoma color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">Deal
on Dams on Klamath Advances<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><B><FONT face=Tahoma color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">New
Work Times – 1/16/08<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><B><FONT face=Tahoma color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">By
Felicity Barringer, staff writer</SPAN></FONT></B><FONT color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Bitter opponents over the future of the <st1:place
w:st="on">Klamath River</st1:place> unveiled a formal agreement on Tuesday to
pave the way for removal of four aging hydroelectric dams that re-engineered the
watershed and sharply decreased fish stocks.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">The decades-old disputes between advocates for fish and
the farmers who are their historic adversaries appeared to dissolve as almost
all of 26 user groups, tribes and governments involved backed a plan to allocate
the waters of a dam-free river.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">But the agreement lacks one vital link: a decision by
the dams’ owner, PacifiCorp Power, to agree to their removal.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">That decision, a company spokesman said, will not be
made unless the financial interests of the company’s customers are
safeguarded.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">If the dams came down, more than 300 miles of the
Klamath, in northern <A title="More news and information about California."
href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/national/usstatesterritoriesandpossessions/california/index.html?inline=nyt-geo"><FONT
color=black><SPAN
style="COLOR: windowtext; TEXT-DECORATION: none">California</SPAN></FONT></A>
and southern <A title="More news and information about Oregon."
href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/national/usstatesterritoriesandpossessions/oregon/index.html?inline=nyt-geo"><FONT
color=black><SPAN
style="COLOR: windowtext; TEXT-DECORATION: none">Oregon</SPAN></FONT></A>, would
be open to fish for the first time in more than 90 years.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">The removal of the four dams and the restoration efforts
would constitute one of the most far-reaching efforts ever to reverse the harm
done by human intervention on a river while safeguarding the viability of the
towns, industry and agriculture along it. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">The agreement envisions “one of the most amazing
restoration projects in the world,” said Steve Thompson, a regional director of
the federal <A title="More articles about Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S."
href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/organizations/f/fish_and_wildlife_service/index.html?inline=nyt-org"><FONT
color=black><SPAN style="COLOR: windowtext; TEXT-DECORATION: none">Fish and
Wildlife Service</SPAN></FONT></A> based in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Sacramento</st1:place></st1:City>.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">The deal would cost nearly $1 billion over the next
decade, federal officials said, but more than half of that could come from money
already being spent to mitigate the impact of the dams, which provide enough
electricity for about 70,000 households. Arguments remain over who should bear
the $120-million cost of taking the dams down — the utility and its 1.6 million
customers in six states, or state and federal agencies, or some other entity.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">The president of the Klamath Water Users Association,
which represents farmers on 220,000 acres in the <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Klamath</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">Basin</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>, said the agreement met the farmers’
three primary objectives. These, the president, Luther Horsley, said, include
having a reliable primary source of water, affordable power for irrigation and
insurance that farmers’ planting plans will not be disrupted by unexpected new
federal wildlife regulations.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">The agreement comes as federal energy regulators are
considering PacifiCorp Power’s application for a new 50-year license to operate
the dams. The license may not be granted unless the requirements of wildlife
protection agencies are met, and the <A
title="More articles about National Marine Fisheries Service"
href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/organizations/n/national_marine_fisheries_service/index.html?inline=nyt-org"><FONT
color=black><SPAN style="COLOR: windowtext; TEXT-DECORATION: none">National
Marine Fisheries Service</SPAN></FONT></A>, which protects the sharply reduced
salmon populations, has said it will agree to the relicensing only if the
company builds fish ladders to allow salmon to reach the waters above the
dam.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">By two separate estimates, removing the four Klamath
dams would be cheaper than modifying them. The company, which disputes these
estimates, is negotiating separately with the various interest groups over the
fate of the dams. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Paul Vogel, a spokesman for PacifiCorp Power, said,
“Fulfilling everyone else’s interests doesn’t protect our customers.”
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">“What we would not allow,” Mr. Vogel said, “is for the
cost of removal and the cost of replacement power to be totally borne by our
customers.” <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">PacifiCorp Power is a subsidiary of Mid-American Energy
Holdings Company, which is owned by Berkshire
Hathaway.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">The agreement sets out how water will be allocated in
wet and dry years (generally the needs of fish take priority) and how those
users with lower priority during droughts (largely farmers) may be given
additional supplies and new storage capacity in subsequent
years.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Negotiators for the Hupa Indian tribe and for a second
group of farmers have not acceded to the plan. Oregon Wild, an environmental
group that was not involved, issued a news release condemning the deal as a $1
billion boondoggle.
#<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P><NYT_UPDATE_BOTTOM></NYT_UPDATE_BOTTOM></NYT_TEXT>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><A
href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/16/us/16klamath.html?_r=1&oref=slogin">http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/16/us/16klamath.html?_r=1&oref=slogin</A><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><B><FONT face=Tahoma size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">Groups Offer
Plan to Help <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Oregon</st1:place></st1:State> Salmon<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><B><FONT face=Tahoma size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">Associated Press
– 1/15/08<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><B><FONT face=Tahoma size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">By Jeff Barnard,
staff writer</SPAN></FONT></B><FONT size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">GRANTS PASS, Ore. (AP) — An ambitious deal calling for
the removal of four hydroelectric dams to restore struggling salmon runs has
been forged among farmers, Indian tribes, fishermen, conservation groups and
government agencies battling over scarce water in the
region.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">The plan, announced Tuesday, came after two years of
closed-door negotiations and resolved long-standing differences over how to
divide <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Klamath</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Basin</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> water between a
federal irrigation project and fish protected by the Endangered Species
Act.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">The agreement, which would be the largest dam removal
project in the nation's history, must be reviewed by federal agencies, including
the U.S. Justice Department. The deal would open 300 miles of rivers that have
not seen salmon in the past century and restore 60 miles of reservoir to
free-flowing river, according to American Rivers, a conservation
group.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Removal of the Klamath River dams, perhaps as soon as
2015, depends on agreement from their owner, Portland-based utility PacifiCorp,
as well as some $400 million in new spending on salmon restoration, primarily
from Congress, for a total of $1 billion over 10
years.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">The plan contains no provision for paying the estimated
$180 million to remove the dams, leaving that to
PacifiCorp.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">"What we've come up with is a blueprint for how to solve
the Klamath crisis," said Craig Tucker, Klamath Campaign coordinator for the
Karuk Tribe, which has been working for years to restore dwindling salmon
catches that were once key to members' diet and
culture.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">"We wanted to put together a plan that keeps fishing
communities whole and farm communities whole," he said. "The only thing standing
in the way of where we are today and resolution is Warren Buffett's Klamath
dams."<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">PacifiCorp is a unit of MidAmerican Energy Holdings Co.,
which is controlled by Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway
Inc.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">PacifiCorp has previously said it would be willing to
remove the dams if its ratepayers don't have to pay. But it has also been
pursuing a new 30- or 50-year operating license, which would require it to spend
about $300 million to build fish ladders. The dams produce enough power for
about 70,000 homes.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">"It's worth taking a pretty serious look at it," said
PacifiCorp spokesman Paul Vogel. "Not being in the room (during negotiations),
we don't know whether anyone has seriously represented our customers on our
behalf, because our customers have to be protected in
this."<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Steve Thompson, director of the California-Nevada office
of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on">Sacramento</st1:City>, <st1:State
w:st="on">Calif.</st1:State></st1:place>, said the Bush administration has
supported the settlement process, but the plan must be reviewed by federal
agencies.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Thompson added that he knew of no dam removal project in
the country that has restored more habitat or would generate more fish, and
characterized the $400 million in new spending as a better investment than past
disaster relief to farmers and fishermen.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Luther Horsley, president of the Klamath Water Users
Association, which represents the 1,000 farms on the project, said farmers
achieved their goals of predictable irrigation deliveries, affordable power for
irrigation pumps, and freedom from future lawsuits over endangered
species.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Opposition to the agreement is coming from the Hoopa
Valley Tribe, based on the <st1:place w:st="on">Trinity River</st1:place>, which
flows into the Klamath below the dams; some farmers who are not part of the
Klamath Reclamation Project; and two conservation groups tossed out of the talks
last spring, Oregon Wild and WaterWatch.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Steve Pedery of Oregon Wild and Robert Hunter of
WaterWatch said they were skeptical that the deal could actually produce the
extra water salmon need to thrive, or that Congress could come up with the
money. They characterized the agreement as a sweetheart deal for the Bush
administration to give farmers what they want.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Hoopa Chairman Clifford Marshall said the agreement
gives irrigation water priority over the needs of salmon and requires the tribe
to waive its water rights on behalf of fish, without any hard assurances the
dams would come out.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">"Dangling a carrot like this will not work for Hoopa,"
he said.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">The Klamath was once the third most productive salmon
river system on the West Coast, but it has declined because of misguided
hatchery practices, overfishing, development and the loss of habitat to dams,
mining, and logging.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Fish returns have become so small that in 2006
commercial salmon fishing had to be nearly shut down off most of <st1:State
w:st="on">Oregon</st1:State> and <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State
w:st="on">California</st1:State></st1:place>, causing a federal disaster
declaration.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">During a drought in 2001, irrigation was shut off to
most of the Klamath Reclamation Project to protect threatened suckers in Upper
Klamath Lake, the irrigation project's primary reservoir, and threatened coho
salmon in the <st1:place w:st="on">Klamath River</st1:place>, the lake's natural
outlet.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">When irrigation was restored in 2002, some 70,000 adult
Chinook salmon died in the river from diseases caused by low and warm water.
After the commercial fishing collapse in 2006, the governors of <st1:State
w:st="on">Oregon</st1:State> and <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">California</st1:place></st1:State> called for a summit to find
solutions, but it never came off. #<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="BACKGROUND: white"><B><FONT face="Times New Roman"
color=#666666 size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: #666666; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><A
href="http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5i4HAakwXZYosUwUCFDwwUj6Fp_fQD8U6M9IG1">http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5i4HAakwXZYosUwUCFDwwUj6Fp_fQD8U6M9IG1</A></SPAN></FONT></B><B><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=#666666 size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: #666666; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="BACKGROUND: white"><B><FONT face="Times New Roman"
color=#666666 size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: #666666; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="BACKGROUND: white"><B><FONT face="Times New Roman"
color=#666666 size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: #666666; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="BACKGROUND: white"><B><FONT face=Tahoma size=4><SPAN
lang=EN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">Klamath
water deal reached; </SPAN></FONT></B><B><FONT face=Tahoma size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">Tribes, farmers
and others draw up a plan to remove dams and revive dwindling salmon
populations<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="BACKGROUND: white"><st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on"><B><FONT face=Tahoma size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">Los
Angeles</SPAN></FONT></B></st1:place></st1:City><B><FONT face=Tahoma
size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"> Times –
1/16/08<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="BACKGROUND: white"><B><FONT face=Tahoma size=4><SPAN
lang=EN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">By Eric
Bailey, staff writer</SPAN></FONT></B><B><FONT face="Times New Roman"
color=#333333 size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: #333333; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="BACKGROUND: white"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="BACKGROUND: white"><st1:City w:st="on"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">SACRAMENTO</SPAN></FONT></st1:City><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"> -- After more than
three years of negotiations, a collection of long-quarreling <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Klamath</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">Basin</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> farmers, fishermen and tribes
announced a breakthrough agreement Tuesday that they said could lead to the
nation's most extensive dam-removal project.<BR><BR>The $1-billion plan proposes
to end one of the West's fiercest water wars by reviving the Klamath River's
flagging salmon population while ensuring irrigation water and cheap power for
farmers in the basin, which straddles the Oregon-California state
line.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="BACKGROUND: white"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="BACKGROUND: white"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=4><SPAN lang=EN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">The
company that owns the four dams in the basin -- billionaire Warren Buffett's
PacifiCorp -- was excluded from negotiations and did not sign on. But
participants heralded the hard-fought agreement as a sprawling, basin-wide
solution that united factions long at odds over the fate of the troubled
river.<BR><BR>"Never has the basin been so unified around the necessity for
removal of those dams," said Glen Spain of the Pacific Coast Federation of
Fishermen's Assns.<BR><BR>Two environmental groups and a <st1:place
w:st="on">Northern California</st1:place> tribe balked at the blueprint, calling
it a Bush administration sellout to agribusiness allies. Clifford Lyle Marshall,
chairman of the holdout Hoopa Valley Tribe, said the proposal favors farmers
over the river's fish and labeled it "an Old West irrigation deal: guarantees
for irrigators, empty promises for the Indians."<BR><BR>"The ironic thing is
there's not even dam removal in this dam-removal deal," said Bob Hunter of
WaterWatch of Oregon, one of the two dissenting environmental groups, both of
which were excluded from the negotiations last year.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="BACKGROUND: white"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="BACKGROUND: white"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=4><SPAN lang=EN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">"It
seems they released it now because time is running out for the Bush
administration to deliver to its political allies in the Klamath farm
community."<BR><BR>PacifiCorp officials also took exception to the
proposal.<BR><BR>Paul Vogel, a PacifiCorp spokesman, said the company initiated
the talks as part of its bid for a new federal operating license for the dams.
But he said PacifiCorp was "shut out of the room" for most of the last year as
the final plan was cobbled together by more than two dozen state, federal and
local government agencies, tribes and other groups.<BR><BR>"You really have to
question if there's enough substance there to be worth the paper it's printed
on," he said.<BR><BR>The federal government's chief negotiator at the talks,
Steve Thompson of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, said he participated free
of political influence from the White House and continues to hold out hope that
PacifiCorp will sign on to the proposal in coming weeks.<BR><BR>But critics,
including Hunter, suggested that the deal could prompt PacifiCorp to lay its
money on winning renewal from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The
commission is expected to follow the lead of <st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region> wildlife
agencies, which have required the company to build fish ladders over the dams.
Those ladders could cost up to $300 million and might not work. Several studies
suggest it would be cheaper for the company to demolish the dams and find
alternative power.<BR><BR>The <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Klamath</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">River
Basin</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> has been an epicenter of the fight over
dwindling water in the West for a decade.<BR><BR>In the drought year of 2001,
worries about endangered fish prompted the federal government to cut back water
to farmers, igniting a heated summerlong protest.<BR><BR>The next year farmers
won more water, but environmentalists blamed a cutback in river flows for the
death of 70,000 salmon.<BR><BR>By 2006, the river's chinook salmon population
had declined so much that federal officials sharply cut back the commercial
fishing season, spreading dismay to coastal communities.<BR><BR>At the same
time, those representing the Klamath region's competing interests began trying
to settle their differences behind closed doors. Meeting roughly once a month,
they quarreled in secret but slowly reached the consensus that yielded the final
draft released Tuesday.<BR><BR>Farmers won the three prime concessions they had
sought. The agreement establishes water deliveries they can live with: more in
wet years, less in dry. It provides $40 million toward subsidized power to run
irrigation pumps and develop renewable energy to replace the electricity they
now get from PacifiCorp's hydropower dams. And it assuages their concerns that
the reappearance of endangered salmon won't end up shutting down farms in the
upper basin "if and when the fish get up here," said Greg Addington of the
Klamath Water Users Assn.<BR><BR>Steve Rothert of American Rivers, one of
several environmental groups that endorsed the deal, said he was confident that
even with guaranteed water for farming, the agreement guarantees adequate flows
in the river to help salmon rebound.<BR><BR>"We are on the cusp of ending
decades-long disputes and charting a better future for farmers, tribes,
fishermen and all the communities that depend on a healthy <st1:place
w:st="on">Klamath River</st1:place>," he said.<BR><BR>The dissenting
environmental groups disagree, saying the agreement cements promises to farmers
that in dry years could rob the river of water needed to sustain the salmon and
other fish.<BR><BR>"What began as an effort to help salmon and remove dams has
turned into a plan to farm American taxpayers," said Steve Pedery of Oregon
Wild, the other dissenting group.<BR><BR>He said the plan also institutionalizes
"large-scale commercial agriculture" on 22,000 acres in Klamath wildlife
refuges, which his group has fought to see reserved just for birds.<BR><BR>The
plan goes far beyond fixing the river. It calls, for instance, for the purchase
of a 90,000-acre tract for the Klamath Tribes of Oregon for use as a
reservation. #<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><A
href="http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-klamath16jan16,1,6366227.story?coll=la-headlines-california">http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-klamath16jan16,1,6366227.story?coll=la-headlines-california</A><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<H1 style="MARGIN: 0pt"><B><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></H1>
<H1 style="MARGIN: 0pt"><B><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></H1>
<H1 style="MARGIN: 0pt"><B><FONT face=Tahoma size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">Tentative Klamath deal reached; But
it hinges on removal of four dams by a utility not included in the
talks<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></H1>
<H1 style="MARGIN: 0pt"><st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><B><FONT
face=Tahoma size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">Sacramento</SPAN></FONT></B></st1:place></st1:City><FONT
face=Tahoma size=4><SPAN lang=EN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">
Bee – 1/16/08<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></H1>
<H1 style="MARGIN: 0pt"><B><FONT face=Tahoma size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">By David Whitney, staff
writer</SPAN></FONT></B><FONT size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></H1>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><st1:State w:st="on"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">WASHINGTON</SPAN></FONT></st1:State><FONT size=4><SPAN
lang=EN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"> – An agreement to restore the <st1:place
w:st="on">Klamath River</st1:place> so that it would once again teem with salmon
was unveiled Tuesday, but it lacked one crucial element – removal of four
hydroelectric dams that have slowed its waters and helped breed fish-killing
disease.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">The $950 million deal would double spending on the sick
river system over the next decade and give Klamath basin farmers in southern
<st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Oregon</st1:place></st1:State>
guaranteed irrigation water while also sending more water downriver to support
fish runs.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Advocates said the deal is contingent upon separate
negotiations with Portland-based PacifiCorp to dismantle the dams, which would
free water to replenish the river system. But the utility could not say how
seriously it is considering doing that. Federal regulators are in the last
stages of relicensing the dams for another 50 years.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">PacifiCorp spokesman Paul Vogel said the company is
"negotiating with any number of folks" over the fate of the dams but dismissed
Tuesday's announcement because the company was specifically excluded from the
negotiations.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">"It is difficult to believe that it can be called
comprehensive when 700,000 of our customers were not in the room," Vogel said.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Parties to the deal, including farmers, irrigation
districts, Indian tribes and fishermen, hope an agreement for removal of the
dams can be reached within a month or two to give them time to lobby Congress
for final approval.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Participants in the closed talks were largely
enthusiastic.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">"It's a major step forward on solving some of the most
intractable water problems in the West," said Glen Spain of the Pacific Coast
Federation of Fishermen's Associations, which represents commercial salmon
fishermen. "At no time has there been so much unanimity on the
river."<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Craig Tucker of <st1:place w:st="on">Northern
California</st1:place>'s Karuk tribe, a key player in the talks, said the deal
will "give fish 300 miles of spawning habitat, increase river flows and do it in
a way that that allows farms and fish to survive."<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Under the deal, additional water would come into the
system through new storage, breaching of some levees, tighter controls on
agricultural diversions and retirement of water
rights.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">But some environmentalists, who also were not part of
the 26 parties negotiating the final agreement, called it a "half a deal" that
will burden federal taxpayers with millions of dollars for economic assistance
unrelated to fish restoration.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">"There is some good stuff in here for the river," said
Steve Pedery of Oregon Wild. "But this is a lot of money – $1 billion for every
special interest in the Klamath basin."<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Some participants, including the Hoopa tribe, were
balking at the deal. Other participants are public agencies that will have to
hold public hearings before casting a vote on the deal. Tuesday's announcement
makes the agreement public so that those public discussions can begin.
#<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><A
href="http://www.sacbee.com/111/story/637676.html">http://www.sacbee.com/111/story/637676.html</A><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><B><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><B><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><st1:place w:st="on"><B><FONT face=Tahoma color=black
size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">Klamath
River</SPAN></FONT></B></st1:place><B><FONT face=Tahoma color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">
pact out of the gate<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><B><FONT
face=Tahoma color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">Eureka</SPAN></FONT></B></st1:place></st1:City><B><FONT
face=Tahoma color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">
Times Standard – 1/16/08<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><B><FONT face=Tahoma color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">By
John Driscoll, staff writer</SPAN></FONT></B><B><FONT color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">A diverse
group of fishermen, farmers, tribes, agencies and environmental groups have
announced a tentative agreement to remove dams on the <st1:place
w:st="on">Klamath River</st1:place>, restore salmon and settle agonizing
conflicts that have for years split the basin. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">It would
be the biggest dam removal project in history and one of the most ambitious
fisheries restoration efforts ever. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">The pact
calls for removing four dams on the Klamath, securing water and power for farms,
and restoring salmon runs. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">The deal
struck by 26 groups and aired Tuesday has yet to be endorsed by their governing
bodies, and negotiations are needed with dam owner Pacificorp regarding the
removal of the dams. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">While huge
hurdles remain, notably finding hundreds of millions of dollars to put the
agreement in place, the negotiations represent a watershed in compromise between
once-bitter opponents. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">On a
conference call with the groups, Craig Tucker with the Karuk Tribe said that the
parties agreed to civil talks when it was clear that the resources of the river
would have to be shared. He called the settlement a means to do that.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">”I call it
the fish and chips settlement,” Tucker said, referring to potato farming in the
basin. “We can have both.” <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">The plan
calls for support of a separate agreement to remove Iron Gate, J.C. Boyle, Copco
1 and Copco 2 dams, which cut off about 300 miles of salmon spawning habitat in
the upper <st1:place w:st="on">Klamath River</st1:place>. It also proposes
reintroducing fish like chinook and coho salmon, steelhead and lamprey to those
areas and managing them with an eye toward making them self-sustaining
populations. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">The
announcement comes nearly seven years after the federal government cut off water
to many farms around <st1:place w:st="on">Upper Klamath Lake</st1:place> to
spare coho salmon in the river and suckers in the lake. The next year, water was
crimped to fish to provide full water supplies to irrigators. The events were
lightning rods for already simmering conflicts, and sparked a bitter water war.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">The
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is currently considering Pacificorp's
request for a new license for the dams, which could last 30 to 50 years.
Commission staff have recommended keeping the dams in place, and trucking fish
around the dams in a effort to restore fisheries. The settlement could supplant
the commission process. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Pacificorp
has reached settlement agreements in other watersheds, and has said it is
interested in settling on the Klamath if it's feasible and economical. A
proposal has been pitched to Pacificorp, said Chuck Bonham with Trout Unlimited,
but its contents are confidential. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">The
proposal looks for $985 million over the next decade, not including another $150
million expected to be needed for dam removal. Some of that money can be found
be reallocating funds from existing state and federal programs, according to the
settlement group. Dam removal may need to be covered by Pacificorp's ratepayers
and could be cheaper than putting fish passage provisions in place on the
existing dams, Bonham said. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">A
permanent increase in the amount of water available to fish would be secured as
part of a long-term plan drafted by a group of irrigation districts in the
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Upper</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Klamath</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">Basin</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>. Some of that water would be made
available by reducing irrigation use, retiring water rights on upper tributaries
and improving storage by breaching levees in the <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Williamson</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">River</st1:PlaceType> delta, reconnecting the Barnes and
<st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Agency</st1:PlaceType> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">Lake</st1:PlaceType> ranches and reconnecting Wood River Wetlands to
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Agency</st1:PlaceType>
<st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Lake</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>. The agreement also
lays out obligatory allocations for wildlife refuges in the upper basin -- rich
havens for waterfowl and bald eagles. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">A drought
plan and an investigation into how climate change will affect fish and
communities in the river basin would be authorized, as well as a monitoring
effort to track populations of fish. The groups agreed to a permanent limitation
on the amount of water taken from Upper Klamath Lake, and crafted assurances to
irrigators using a variety of approaches including increased efficiency, land
and water acquisitions and water storage projects. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Greg
Addington with the Klamath Water Users Association, which represents farmers
that use the federal irrigation project in the upper basin, said the settlement
stakes out a huge amount of middle ground and has provided an opportunity to
gain some certainty. The status quo is a frightening place to be for irrigators
in the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Upper</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Klamath</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">Basin</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>, Addington said.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">”We live
here, we live with the results, with the resource,” Addington said. “We're
dependent on it -- we want healthy communities.” <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Substantial
details need to be worked out, said Erica Terence with the <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Northcoast</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Environmental</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">Center</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> in a separate phone interview. The
plan represents an enormous shift, she said, but does not promise to be able to
fully restore the watershed. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">”It
represents an incremental step in the right direction,” Terence said.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Costs are
enormous, she said, and until the separate but integral hydropower agreement is
solidified, it would be premature for the center to sign off on the plan.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Water
supply and regulatory certainty that would be provided to farmers in the upper
basin are critical areas that Terence said would require the center to conduct a
thorough legal review. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Other
environmental groups no longer part of the talks criticized the agreement as
lacking guarantees for dam removal and water for fish, and for securing farming
on wildlife refuges in the upper basin. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">”While the
package has important fisheries restoration components that are needed in the
basin, the total package is so loaded up with special interest giveaways to
agribusiness that it is hard to see how it could credibly move through
congress,” said Bob Hunter with the group WaterWatch in a statement.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service regional director Steve Thompson said that while the Bush
administration hasn't reviewed the details of the plan, it has been supportive
of his efforts in the basin talks. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">The groups
vowed to turn over every stone to find the political and financial support
needed to make the deal happen. Troy Fletcher, a policy analyst for the Yurok
Tribe, said the settlement has the potential to manage the watershed
holistically and provide more than the minimum needs of fish on a year-to-year
basis. The agreement only works if the four dams are removed, he said.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">”We're
prepared to do our part, roll our sleeves up and get to work on restoring fish
in the basin,” Fletcher said. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">California
Sen. Patricia Wiggins, D-Santa Rosa -- “I want to congratulate the members of
the Klamath Settlement Group. This agreement represents their hard work and best
efforts to put aside one of the most contentious and bitter wars over water.”
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Luther
Horsley, president, Klamath Water Users Association -- “We look forward to
working together with the entire watershed.” <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Rep. Mike
Thompson, D-St. Helena -- “I'm especially pleased that their solution includes
taking down all the dams. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">I've said
since the beginning that it's both the best thing for the river and the most
cost-effective solution. But we can't move forward until Pacificorp comes to the
table and is ready to do what's best for the environment and our local economy
by taking down the dams.” <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Hoopa</SPAN></FONT></st1:PlaceName><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">
<st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Valley</st1:PlaceType></SPAN></FONT></st1:place><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"> Tribe
Chairman Clifford Lyle Marshall -- “What began as dam removal negotiations got
turned into a water deal. Pacificorp left the room two years ago and
negotiations with the company have since been separated from this negotiation.
The terms of this so-called restoration agreement make the right to divert water
for irrigation the top priority, trumping salmon water needs and the best
available science on the river.” <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Steve
Rothert, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">American</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Rivers</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> -- “We applaud the
hard work and commitment of all the partners in hammering out this agreement. It
proves that when people with very different interests work together in good
faith, real solutions are possible.” #<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><A
href="http://www.times-standard.com/ci_7984769">http://www.times-standard.com/ci_7984769</A><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#333333 size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: #333333; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#333333 size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: #333333; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><FONT face=Tahoma size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">Klamath dams may
go; </SPAN></FONT></B><B><FONT face=Tahoma size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">Basin
stakeholders reach agreement to remove 4
barriers<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><FONT face=Tahoma size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">Redding Record
Searchlight – 1/16/08<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><FONT face=Tahoma size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">By Dylan
Darling, staff writer</SPAN></FONT></B><FONT face="Times New Roman"
color=#333333 size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: #333333; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">After years of disputes and lawsuits, those often at
odds over water in the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Klamath</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">Basin</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> have come to an agreement -- the
dams have to go.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">In a historic proposal announced Tuesday, salmon and
steelhead would return with the removal of four hydroelectric dams on the
<st1:place w:st="on">Klamath River</st1:place>. Growers still would get
irrigation water from the river, which runs from southern <st1:State
w:st="on">Oregon</st1:State> and through <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Siskiyou</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">County</st1:PlaceType> on its way to the <st1:place w:st="on">Pacific
Ocean</st1:place>. The proposed 50-year agreement would cost $96 million per
year, according to a coalition of 26 basin
stakeholders.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">"This agreement only works with the removal of four
dams," said Troy Fletcher, a consultant, and former executive director for the
Yurok Tribe, which has a reservation near the river's mouth on the north
coast.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Removing the dams -- Iron Gate, J.C. Boyle, Copco No. 1
and Copco No. 2 -- would open up an estimated 300 miles of habitat for salmon
and steelhead. Stakeholders involved with the agreement include federal and
state agencies, environmental organizations, grower groups and fishing
interests.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">But Portland, Ore.-based PacifiCorp is working with the
federal government toward keeping the dams in the river and producing power,
said company spokesman Paul Vogel.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">"Kind of makes me question what was settled," he
said.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">And not all Klamath stakeholders agree there is an
agreement.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">The Hoopa Valley Tribe, whose reservation flanks the
lower stretch of the <st1:place w:st="on">Klamath River</st1:place>, said it
won't endorse the agreement because it doesn't assure water for
salmon.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">"The terms of this so-called restoration agreement make
the right to divert water for irrigation the top priority, trumping salmon water
needs and the best available science on the river," said Clifford Marshall,
tribal chairman.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">The 26 groups who crafted the 256-page agreement after
2½ years of closed-door talks said it could squelch the embers of dispute
remaining from the summers of 2001 and 2002.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">In 2001, the federal government cut off the usual supply
of water to growers in the Klamath Reclamation Project -- which straddles the
California-Oregon border -- because of water requirements for fish protected by
the Endangered Species Act.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">It sparked a water war that drew national media
attention. The following summer, the regular supply of water again flowed into
the irrigation canals and more than 30,000 salmon died downstream in the
<st1:place w:st="on">Klamath River</st1:place>, which critics blamed on low
flows in the river because of the diversion.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Along the river, PacifiCorp has a string of power dams,
which produce about 150 megawatts of power, or enough to power about 70,000
homes, that are up for a new federal license. Because of the negotiations
involved with the relicensing process, the different groups started a dialog
that became the agreement talks, Vogel said.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">The company, which is owned by billionaire Warren
Buffet's Berkshire Hathaway, pulled out of the talks "several months ago" when a
pillar of it became the removal of the dams, he
said.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Although PacifiCorp wasn't involved with the talks, Greg
Addington, executive director of the Klamath Water Users Association, said he
recently called the company's official heading up the relicensing to tell him
the agreement was coming<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">"They certainly should have known we were getting
close," he said. #<FONT color=#333333><SPAN
style="COLOR: #333333"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><A
href="http://www.redding.com/news/2008/jan/16/klamath-dams-may-go/">http://www.redding.com/news/2008/jan/16/klamath-dams-may-go/</A><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT> </P><FONT face=Arial
size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p>
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