The demolition and removal of four hydroelectric dams on the Klamath River is now complete. Last month, the Klamath River Renewal Corporation’s (KRRC) lead construction contractor, Kiewit, demobilized its equipment and work crews from the former dam sites, marking the effective end of construction.
The physical work of removing the dams may be done, but the impacts to the river and the fishery are not. We need to be clear-eyed about this concern and confront the situation.
kAmz=2>2E9 (2E6C &D6CD pDD@4:2E:@? Wz(&pX :D 2 ?@?AC@7:E @C82?:K2E:@? H9@D6 >:DD:@? :D E@ AC6D6CG6 2?5 6?92?46 E96 G:23:=:EJ @7 :CC:82E65 28C:4F=EFC6 :? E96 z=2>2E9 q2D:?[ 7@C E96 36?67:E @7 4FCC6?E 2?5 7FEFC6 86?6C2E:@?D] s2> C6>@G2= :D 2 4@?E6?E:@FD DF3;64E H:E9 2 4@>A=:42E65 9:DE@CJ[ 3FE E96 724E :D E92E z(&p 9@?@C65 2 4@>>:E>6?E E@ C6>2:? ?6FEC2= @? E96 :DDF6]k^Am
kAmpD H:E9 2== 6?G:C@?>6?E2= C6DE@C2E:@? 677@CED[ z(&p C6>2:?D DFAA@CE:G6 @7 :?4C62D:?8 2?5 :>AC@G:?8 7:D9 923:E2E[ @? E96 D:>A=6 AC6>:D6 E92E DF49 AC@;64ED `X 5@ ?@E 4C62E6 255:E:@?2= C68F=2E@CJ 3FC56?D @? 28C:4F=EFC6[ 2?5 aX 67764E:G6=J 96=A C64@G6C E9C62E6?65 2?5 6?52?86C65 7:D9 A@AF=2E:@?D 2?5 ECFDE C6D@FC46D]k^Am
kAmpD E96 7@4FD @? E96 C:G6C D9:7ED 7C@> 52> C6>@G2= E@ C6DE@C2E:@?[ z(&p’D A@D:E:@? :D F?492?865] qFE H6 2C6 4@?46C?65 23@FE 4@?E:?F65 :>A24ED E@ 7:D9 2?5 E96 =@?8\E6C> C64@G6CJ @7 7:D9 DE@4<D :? E96 z=2>2E9 #:G6C] |@C6 :>A@CE2?E=J[ H6 C6>2:? 4@?46C?65 23@FE H96E96C 72C>6CD 2?5 C2?496CD H:== 36 42==65 FA@? E@ AC@G:56 – @C C68F=2E65 E@ C6BF:C6 – >:E:82E:@? @7 DF49 ?682E:G6 :>A24ED]k^Am
kAmz(&p’D DA64:7:4 4@?46C?D C6G@=G6 2C@F?5 E96 @?6 E9:?8 DE:== C6>2:?:?8 7C@> E96 52>D – D65:>6?E] wF?5C65D @7 E9@FD2?5D @7 E@?D @7 7:?6[ @C82?:4 D65:>6?E E92E 925 244F>F=2E65 369:?5 E96 52>D @G6C 564256D 2?5 ?@H 92G6 366? 56A@D:E65 :? E96 >2:?DE6> @7 z=2>2E9 #:G6C E9C@F89 E96 C6D6CG@:C 5C2H5@H? 2?5 52> C6>@G2= AC@46DD]k^Am
kAmp =2C86 C6=62D6 @7 D65:>6?E >@DE C646?E=J @44FCC65 5FC:?8 C6>@G2= @7 E96 4@776C52> 2E xC@? v2E6 2E E96 6?5 @7 $6AE6>36C[ 42FD:?8 2 E6>A@C2CJ 4C2D9 :? 5:DD@=G65 @IJ86? =6G6=D :? E96 C:G6C] u@CEF?2E6=J[ F?=:<6 E96 D:>:=2C 6G6?E 2E E96 6?5 @7 pF8FDE[ E96C6 H6C6 ?@ C6A@CED @7 5625 7:D9 5@H?DEC62>[ ;FDE E9:4<[ >F55J H2E6C]k^Am
kAm$:8?:7:42?E 2>@F?ED @7 D65:>6?E 4@?E:?F65 E@ 36 C6=62D65 7C@> E96 7@C>6C C6D6CG@:C E9C@F89 $6AE6>36C 2?5 E96 7:CDE 92=7 @7 ~4E@36C] !C@G:D:@?2= 52E2[ H9:49 H2D AF3=:4=J 2G2:=23=6 367@C6 C646?E=J 36:?8 AF==65 7C@> E96 &]$] v6@=@8:42= $FCG6J’D H63D:E6[ :?5:42E65 E92E >@C6 E92? g_[___ E@?D @7 D65:>6?E 7=@H65 @FE @7 xC@? v2E6 :? $6AE6>36C 2=@?6] |F49 @7 E9:D D65:>6?E – >@DE=J 5642J65 2=826 E92E 925 244F>F=2E65 :? E96 9J5C@6=64EC:4 C6D6CG@:CD 5FC:?8 E96:C 6I:DE6?46 – H2D 42CC:65 @FE E@ E96 !24:7:4 ~462? 2?5 56A@D:E65 D@>6H96C6 @? E96 4@?E:?6?E2= D96=7] qFE :?:E:2= 52E2 2=D@ DFAA@CED H92E H6 <?@H 2?645@E2==J – 2 >2DD:G6 2>@F?E @7 D65:>6?E 92D 366? 56A@D:E65 :? E96 z=2>2E9 #:G6C 5@H?DEC62> @7 xC@? v2E6]k^Am
kAms2E2 DF3>:EE65 3J z##r’D 4@?EC24E@CD E@ E96 u656C2= t?6C8J #68F=2E@CJ r@>>:DD:@? :?5:42E6 E92E 36EH66? E96 DE2CE @7 52> C6>@G2= AC@46DD :? y2?F2CJ 2?5 E96 6?5 @7 ~4E@36C[ @G6C @?6 >:==:@? E@?D @7 D65:>6?E H6C6 C6=62D65 7C@> E96 7@C>6C 52> D:E6D] #@F89=J E6? A6C46?E @7 E9:D G@=F>6 – 2C@F?5 `__[___ E@?D – 92D 366? 56A@D:E65 :? E96 C:G6C’D >2:?DE6> 36EH66? xC@? v2E6 2?5 $6:25 '2==6J]k^Am
kAms@H?DEC62> =2?5@H?6CD 2?5 4@F?EJ C6AC6D6?E2E:G6D 92G6 6IAC6DD65 4@?46C? @G6C E9:D D65:>6?E :? E6C>D @7 E96 AC6D6?46 @7 962GJ >6E2=D[ =:<6 2CD6?:4 2?5 >6C4FCJ[ 2?5 E96 A@E6?E:2= C:D< E@ 962=E9 2?5 9F>2? D276EJ] %9@D6 4@?46C?D 2C6 =68:E:>2E6 2?5 56D6CG6 C6DA64E]k^Am
kAmu@C 72C>6CD 2?5 C2?496CD @7 E96 z=2>2E9 !C@;64E[ H9@D6 H2E6C DFAA=J 92D 366? D6G6C6=J C65F465 @G6C E96 =2DE E9C66 564256D 7@C E96 D2<6 @7 D2=>@?[ E96 4@?46C?D H:E9 E96 D65:>6?E 2C6 E:65 E@ :ED 6I:DE:?8 2?5 7FEFC6 :>A24ED E@ 7:D9]k^Am
kAmp44@C5:?8 E@ >@?:E@C:?8 52E2 4@==64E65 E9:D A2DE J62C[ E96 :?:E:2= C6=62D6 @7 D65:>6?E 5FC:?8 E96 C6D6CG@:C 5C2H5@H? AC@46DD =2DE H:?E6C 56DEC@J65 E96 D2=>@? C655D :? E96 >2:?DE6> C6249 @7 E96 z=2>2E9 #:G6C 36=@H xC@? v2E6 s2>] %92E =@DD >62?E E96 67764E:G6 72:=FC6 @7 2 =2C86 A@CE:@? @7 E96 H:=5 72==\CF? r9:?@@< E92E C6EFC?65 =2DE J62C E@ E96 z=2>2E9 #:G6C E@ DA2H?]k^Am
kAm(9:=6 E96 ?F>36C @7 7:D9 E92E 92E49 2?5 DFCG:G6 E@ >2EFC:EJ G2C:6D 6249 J62C[ E96 ?2EFC2= =:764J4=6 @7 72==\CF? r9:?@@< D2=>@? >62?D E92E E96C6 2C6 86?6C2==J @?=J 7:G6 286\4=2DD6D @7 7:D9 :? E96 A@AF=2E:@?] $@ H96? 2? 6G6?E =:<6 52> C6>@G2= AC6G6?ED 2? 286\4=2DD 7C@> DF446DD7F==J C6AC@5F4:?8 E96 6?E:C6 A@AF=2E:@? :D 27764E65]k^Am
kAm%96 7F== >28?:EF56 @7 E96 92C> E@ 72==\CF? r9:?@@< 7C@> 52> C6>@G2= AC@46DD H@?’E 36 7F==J <?@H? F?E:= a_af @C a_ag[ H96? E96 7:D9 3@C? :? a_ab H@F=5 36 6IA64E65 E@ C6EFC? E@ E96 C:G6C 2D 25F=ED] qFE 7@C 2 A@AF=2E:@? E92E :D H:56=J C6A@CE65 2D 2=C625J DECF88=:?8[ E96 4F>F=2E:G6 :>A24E 4@F=5 36 D6G6C6]k^Am
kAm{@@<:?8 7@CH2C5[ E96 D65:>6?E H:== 4@?E:?F6 E@ A@D6 E96 C:D< @7 D>@E96C:?8 D2=>@? C655D 2?5 <:==:?8 ;FG6?:=6 D2=>@? D@ =@?8 2D :E C6>2:?D :? E96 C:G6C]k^Am
kAm%96 :>A24ED E@ D2=>@? 2C6 ?@E ;FDE =:>:E65 E@ E96:C C655D 36:?8 56DEC@J65] $65:>6?E 7C@> E96 9J5C@6=64EC:4 C6D6CG@:CD 92D 366? 2?5 =@@<D E@ 4@?E:?F6 E@ 36 2 AC:>2CJ 5C:G6C @7 7:D9 5:D62D6 :? E96 z=2>2E9 #:G6C]k^Am
kAm$:?46 E96 62C=J a___D[ 4@:?4:5:?8 H:E9 E96 25@AE:@? @7 7=@H C6BF:C6>6?ED F?56C E96 t?52?86C65 $A64:6D p4E[ D4:6?E:DED 92G6 5@4F>6?E65 2 5C2>2E:4 :?4C62D6 :? E96 AC6G2=6?46 2?5 C2E6 @7 :?764E:@? @7 E96 A2C2D:E6 r6C2E@?@G2 D92DE2 :? ;FG6?:=6 D2=>@? :? E96 z=2>2E9 #:G6C 5@H?DEC62> @7 xC@? v2E6 s2>] r] D92DE2 :D 2 5:D62D6 E92E 2EE24<D E96 :?E6DE:?2= EC24ED @7 7:D9[ 42FD:?8 96>@CC928:?8 2?5 :? D6G6C6 42D6D[ 562E9]k^Am
kAm%96 :?4C62D6 :? E96 5:D62D6 92D 366? 2EEC:3FE65 :? A2CE E@ E96 AC6G2=6?46 @7 7:?6[ @C82?:4 D65:>6?E C6=62D65 7C@> E96 9J5C@6=64EC:4 C6D6CG@:CD] %9:D D65:>6?E :D 2? :562= 923:E2E 2?5 7@@5 D@FC46 7@C E96 >:4C@D4@A:4 H@C> E92E D6CG6D 2D 2 9@DE 7@C E96 A2C2D:E6] W%96 32D:4 4J4=6 H:E9 r] D92DE2 :D E96 H@C>D C6=62D6 DA@C6D E92E :?764E ;FG6?:=6 7:D9[ 2?5 H96? :?764E65 25F=E 7:D9 C6EFC? E@ DA2H?[ E96J C6=62D6 DA@C6D E92E :?764E E96 H@C>D[ C6DE2CE:?8 E96 AC@46DD]Xk^Am
kAmqJ AC@G:5:?8 4@?D:DE6?E=J 9:89 7=@HD :? E96 z=2>2E9 #:G6C[ 6G6? 5FC:?8 A6C:@5D @7 5C@F89E[ &AA6C z=2>2E9 {2<6 H2D AC6G6?E65 7C@> 7:==:?8 2?5 DA:==:?8[ E9FD 6=:>:?2E:?8 E96 EJA6D @7 “7=FD9:?8 7=@HD” E92E 9:DE@C:42==J D4@FC65 E9:D D65:>6?E 7C@> E96 C:G6C] sF6 E@ >2?2865 C:G6C 7=@HD A@DE\a___[ E96 D65:>6?E 3F:=E FA :? E96 C:G6C 492??6= 5@H?DEC62> @7 xC@? v2E6 s2>] &?56C E9:D 7=@H C68:>6[ H@C> A@AF=2E:@?D 2?5 r] D92DE2 AC@=:76C2E65]k^Am
kAmu@==@H:?8 E96 5C2:?:?8 @7 E96 C6D6CG@:CD[ C6D62C496CD :?:E:2==J 7@F?5 =@H6C ?F>36CD @7 E96 H@C>D E92E 42FD6 r] D92DE2[ DF886DE:?8 E92E E96 D65:>6?E C6=62D65 7C@> E96 52> D:E6D 925 D@>69@H 5:DCFAE65 A@AF=2E:@?D] qFE 2D E96 DF>>6C AC@8C6DD65[ E96 H@C>D BF:4<=J 2?5 6IE6?D:G6=J C64@=@?:K65 E96 ?6H D65:>6?E :? E96 C:G6C] pD 2 C6DF=E[ 4@?EC2CJ E@ 6IA64E2E:@?D[ E9:D J62C’D >@?:E@C:?8 D9@H65 r] D92DE2 DA@C6 4@F?ED >2E49:?8 C646?E J62CD]k^Am
kAmx? E96 =@?8\E6C>[ H96? E9:D D65:>6?E 92D 7:?2==J 366? 7=FD965 7C@> E96 DJDE6>[ :E :D A=2FD:3=6 E92E r] D92DE2 H:== 36 =6DD @7 2 AC@3=6>] qFE F?E:= E92E @44FCD[ E9:D 5:D62D6 :D =:<6=J E@ 4@?E:?F6 E@ :>A24E 4@9@ 2?5 r9:?@@< D2=>@?[ D=@H:?8 C64@G6CJ @7 E96D6 DE@4<D :? E96 H2<6 @7 52> C6>@G2=]k^Am
kAm%96 C646?E C6A@CED @7 25F=E r9:?@@< DA2H?:?8 23@G6 E96 7@C>6C 52>D[ :?4=F5:?8 EC:3FE2C:6D :? ~C68@?[ >2J C6:?7@C46 4@?46C?D H:E9 E96 D65:>6?E :? E96 C:G6C 36=@H E96 52> D:E6D] (9:=6 9F?5C65D @7 7:D9 92G6 C646?E=J 366? D66? 23@G6 E96 52> D:E6D[ EJA:42==J E9@FD2?5D @7 7:D9 DA2H? :? E96 >2:?DE6>[ A2CE:4F=2C=J E96 C6249 7C@> xC@? v2E6 E@ E96 4@?7=F6?46 @7 E96 $92DE2 #:G6C]k^Am
kAm$@ 72C E9:D 72==[ E96 C:G6C 36=@H xC@? v2E6 92D 366? E@@ 4=@F565 3J D65:>6?E E@ @3D6CG6 2?J C655D 2?5 @?=J E6? 25F=E 42C42DD6D – 2 AC@IJ 7@C E96 2??F2= CF? D:K6 2?5 A@E6?E:2= DA2H?:?8 DF446DD – 92G6 366? 7@F?5 :? E92E C6249] %96 2G6C286 7@C E9:D E:>6 @7 J62C H@F=5 36 2C@F?5 `[___ 42C42DD6D] $:>:=2C=J 5C2DE:4 564=:?6D @7 DA2H?:?8 25F=E r9:?@@< 92G6 366? @3D6CG65 :? q@8FD rC66<[ :>>65:2E6=J 36=@H xC@? v2E6 s2>]k^Am
kAmz(&p 92D C646?E=J ;@:?65 H:E9 E96 *FC@< %C:36[ z2CF< %C:36[ 2?5 E96 z=2>2E9 %C:36D :? DFAA@CE:?8 C6DE@C2E:@? H@C< E9C@F89@FE E96 z=2>2E9 q2D:?] pD AC@;64ED >@G6 7@CH2C5 2?5 C6DE@C2E:@? @44FCD[ :E :D 4C:E:42= E92E E96 D65:>6?E =67E :? E96 C:G6C :? E96 H2<6 @7 52> C6>@G2= ?@E 36 @G6C=@@<65 @C 7@C8@EE6?]k^Am
kAm%96 7656C2= 2?5 DE2E6 C68F=2E@CJ 286?4:6D C6DA@?D:3=6 7@C @G6CD66:?8 52> C6>@G2= ?665 E@ 6?DFC6 E92E z##r 255C6DD6D E96 D65:>6?E C6>2:?:?8 :? E96 C:G6C[ ?@H 2?5 =:<6=J 7@C J62CD E@ 4@>6] pD E96D6 286?4:6D C6A62E65=J AC@>:D65 :? E96 =625\FA E@ 52> C6>@G2=[ C6=62D:?8 >@C6 H2E6C 7C@> &AA6C z=2>2E9 {2<6 :D ?@E 2? @AE:@? 7@C 562=:?8 H:E9 E9:D D65:>6?E] z##r 2?5 E96 DFAA@CE6CD @7 52> C6>@G2= H:== ?665 E@ 4@>6 FA H:E9 @E96C A9JD:42=[ >6492?:42=[ @C 3:@=@8:42= D@=FE:@?D]k^Am
kAm}@C :D 2446AE23=6 E@ 2==@H E96 4@?E:?F65 :>A24ED 7C@> E9:D D65:>6?E E@ D@>69@H H2CC2?E 255:E:@?2= =682= AC@E64E:@?D 7@C 7:D9 @C @E96C C68F=2E@CJ 3FC56?D @? 72C>6CD 2?5 C2?496CD :? E96 z=2>2E9 !C@;64E] %92E H@F=5 2=D@ G:@=2E6 2? 6IA=:4:E AC@>:D6 >256 3J 7656C2= 2?5 DE2E6 286?4:6D :? 25G2?46 @7 52> C6>@G2=]k^Am
kAm}@H E92E E96 5632E6 DFCC@F?5:?8 C6>@G2= @7 E96 52>D :D @G6C[ :E’D E:>6 E@ 4@?7C@?E E96 C6>2:?:?8 2?5 4@?E:?F:?8 :>A24ED E@ E96 z=2>2E9 #:G6C 2?5 E96 962GJ H@C< ?66565 E@ ?@H 4=62? :E]k^Am