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ONE STEP CLOSER |
Sacramento, CA – Today Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne, Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski, California Oregon Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, and PacifiCorp Chairman & CEO Greg Abel,, signed an Agreement in Principal (AIP) that defines the path to what would be the largest dam removal in US history. |
Omaha, NE- Klamath River Basin tribal leaders, native activists, sport and commercial fishermen, and conservationists ..disrupt.. the Berkshire Hathaway shareholder meeting..demanding the removal of four Klamath River dams |
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Klamath Restoration Agreement |
1. Klamath science meeting summary |
Orleans, CA- A new report issued by the Karuk Tribe shows that the flesh of a popular game fish in PacifiCorp’s Klamath reservoirs is contaminated by the algal toxin microcystin. The report concludes that the public should by warned by health officials to not eat fish from the reservoirs during summer months.. Click here for the report |
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Sonoma, CA- Today the Klamath Riverkeeper, the Karuk Tribe of California, and the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Association (PCFFA) filed a lawsuit against the California Regional Water Quality Control Board, North Coast region, for failing to regulate toxic discharges from PacifiCorp’s Klamath dams and reservoirs. |
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Siskiyou Co., CA – Water samples from Copco and Iron Gate Reservoirs contain extremely high levels of the toxic blue-green algae Microcystis aeruginosa for the third consecutive year since monitoring began in 2005. |
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Sacramento, CA- Today the Klamath Riverkeeper, the Karuk Tribe of California, and the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Association (PCFFA) jointly petitioned for the California State Water Board to hold PacifiCorp accountable for dangerously high blooms of toxic blue green algae in Klamath reservoirs |
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Happy Camp, CA – Today, the Department of Interior and Commerce filed the final mandatory terms and conditions that must be met in order for PacifiCorp to relicense the Klamath Dams. Although the agencies do not have the authority under the Federal Power Act to mandate dam removal, they can and did mandate fishways and ladders. ... the cost of the prescribed ladders and fishways makes dam removal an economically favorable alternative to relicensing. |
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Sacramento, CA – Today a joint federal
and state working group released a detailed economic
analysis of the controversial Klamath Dam project. The
study concludes that because the Klamath dams are so
old and outdated, it is cheaper for dam owner Warren
Buffet to simply remove them instead of bringing them
up to modern environmental standards. |
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Portland, OR - Ecotrust corporation report,
"..a preliminary assessment of removal of the four
Lower Klamath River dams. It will identify and begin
to quantify the likely economic impacts, both positive
and negative, that dam removal would have on local stakeholders,
particularly Siskiyou County, as three of the four dams
being considered for removal are located within its
borders." |
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TRIBES
APPLAUD |
Happy Camp, CA – Yesterday Governors
Schwarzenegger and Kulongoski announced plans to hold
a Klamath Summit in December to “resolve a multitude
of complex issues related to the health of the river
that impact salmon fishermen, tribes, hydroelectric
power and a host of environmental and habitat concerns.” |
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JUDGE’S RULING A MAJOR |
Happy Camp, CA – After weeks of stalemate,
this week saw a flurry of activity in the relicensing
of PacifiCorp’s aging Klamath River dams. The
latest development is a judicial decision that may force
the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to amend the
draft Environmental Impact Statement released Monday
to include millions of dollars’ worth of fish
ladders. Click here to download a copy of ALJ Ruling |
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Happy Camp, CA – A day after FERC staff
filed a draft environmental impact analysis recommending
a ‘trap and haul’ program to drive fish
around PacifiCorp’s aging Klamath dams, the California
Coastal Conservancy has filed a report that concludes
dam removal could be done safely and affordably without
leading to floods or exposing the river to toxins. |
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FERC THREATENS
PLAN TO |
Happy Camp, CA – Despite what some experts
consider an iron clad case for the removal of PacifiCorp’s
Klamath dams, today the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
(FERC) issued a draft environmental impact statement
that recommends only modest changes to current dam operations. |
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KLAMATH DAMS |
Sacramento, CA – In March, Federal agencies
issued the terms and conditions for a new license which
include fish ladders and flow improvements to benefit
dwindling Klamath River salmon, steelhead and lamprey
runs. PacifiCorp is fighting these mandates arguing
that suitable habitat for salmon no longer exists upstream
of the dams... “PacifiCorp is essentially arguing that they have screwed up this river so much that they shouldn’t have to do anything to fix it,” according to Leaf Hillman, Vice Chair of the Karuk Tribe..." |
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Happy Camp, CA – A recent analysis of
water samples from Copco and Iron Gate Reservoirs reveal
extremely high levels of the toxic blue-green algae
Microcystis aeruginosa which produces a compound known
to cause liver failure and promote tumor growth. |
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Toxic Algae Technical memo |
Copco reservoir, OR - Recent phytoplankton
cell count results for July 12-13th and 26-27th were
received from Aquatic Analysts ... These data clearly
show that hepato-toxic (capable of causing chronic liver
damage and acting as a tumor promoter) blooms of Microcystis
aeruginosa (MSAE) have increased dramatically in intensity
and extent ... All reservoir stations on July 27th exceeded
the World Health Organization Moderate Probability of
Adverse Health Effect Level (MPAHEL) of 100,000 cells/ml.. |
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Portland, OR - For the past several years,
Klamath Basin Tribes have appealed to PacifiCorp to
remove their Klamath River dams. ... Now under new management,
the company is starting to listen. |
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Portland, OR - Klamath Basin Tribes and allies
from the commercial fishing and conservation organizations
will stage a rally at the bi-annual meeting of the international
hydropower industry- Hydrovision 2006 |
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| Happy
Camp, CA – In response to a structural fire,
which destroyed a ceremonial dance house at the Karuk
ceremonial area of Katimin near Somes Bar on July 2,
2006 an emergency session of the Karuk Tribal Council
was convened last Friday ... the Tribal Council announced
it had approved a plan to offer a reward for information
leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible
for the destruction. |
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KATIMIN
CEREMONIAL |
Somes
Bar, CA – Fire crews from Orleans and Somes
Bar were dispatched to a structural fire at 1:20 a.m.
Sunday, July 2, 2006 at the Karuk ceremonial area of
Katimin in Somes Bar, California. A ceremonial dance house was destroyed and has been deemed a total loss. The fire is currently under investigation and a cause has not yet been determined. |
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BUFFET
GIVES TO CHARITY |
Orleans,
CA – .. Billionaire investor Warren Buffet
intends to work with the Gates Foundation to donate
billons of dollars to charity. Meanwhile, on the Klamath
River, dams that are owned by a subsidiary of Buffet’s
Berkshire Hathaway Inc. continues to kill salmon, host
toxic algae blooms, and put Tribal and non-native fishermen
out of work. |
| Happy
Camp , CA – By demonstrating compliance with
the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare
Organization's national standards for health care quality
and safety, the Karuk Tribal Health Program has earned
the Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval |
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| Orleans,
CA – Yesterday Governor Schwarzenegger proclaimed
a State of Emergency in 10 Counties providing disaster
loan guarantees for salmon fishermen. Although encouraged
by the action, Karuk Tribal members will not see much
benefit from the package. |
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| Portland,
OR - Today Portland based PacifiCorp filed an appeal
to Federal Agencies’ mandate to construct ladders
on the Klamath Dams. ..Instead of ladders as mandated
by the agencies, which the agencies had deemed necessary
for success, PacifiCorp seeks to trap fall-run Chinook
salmon at Iron Gate dam and drive them 80 miles to Klamath
Falls, Oregon |
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| Orleans,
CA - The Aquarium Incubator Project provides students,
teachers and community members an excellent opportunity
to learn about the life cycles and habitat requirements
of salmon and trout, important natural resources in
the Klamath River Basin. |
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| San
Francisco, CA – At a rally .. leaders of
the Yurok and Karuk Tribes of Northern California ..
join Congressional Representatives Mike Thompson (D-CA),
George Miller (D-CA) and Lynn Woolsey (D-CA) .. to call
for lasting solutions to environmental problems on the
Klamath River. |
EPA Honors
39 Western |
San
Francisco, CA - During the agency's eighth annual
Environmental Awards Ceremony in San Francisco today,
U.S. EPA Regional Administrator Wayne Nastri presented
plaques to three dozen organizations and individuals throughout
the Pacific Southwest in recognition of their efforts
to protect and preserve the environment in 2005. |
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Tribes
Applaud Feds’ Effort |
Orleans,
CA - The Karuk and Yurok Tribes of California join
the Klamath Tribes of Oregon in supporting recent efforts
of the Department of Commerce and Department of the
Interior towards restoring the Klamath River. Today,
the two federal agencies released mandatory terms and
conditions for the issuance of a new license for Klamath
Dams operated by PacifiCorp. |
| Happy
Camp, CA – In an effort to protect the most
critical cold water refugia for salmon, eel, and sturgeon,
the Karuk Tribe filed a complaint with California Fish
and Game demanding changes to suction dredge mining
rules and regulations. |
For 2005 Press Releases please click here
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Title |
Description |
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AFS
Report (4-1-2005) |
American
Fisheries’ Society Report confirms Tribal Oral
Histories: Salmon once thrived in Upper Klamath Basin |
| A
series of studies: Dam removal, sediment, economics,
etc. for Klamath river basin |
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| General background on the Klamath Dams, their impacts on the river and basin communities, and what you can do to help Bring the Salmon Home. Click here to download | |
| Statements and citations from various agencies, decision makers, and commissions regarding the removal of Klamath Dams | |
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For more information contact the Klamath
River Campaign Coordinator,
Craig Tucker, Ph.D. 
Click here to email Craig |
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