News

In a meeting last night, Siskiyou County supervisors voted unanimously to oppose the removal of four hydroelectric dams on the Klamath River -- three of those dams are in Siskiyou County proper. The board also opposes the Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement. County representatives have been present at the settlement talks over the past two years and have consistently voiced concern over dam removal, saying that it will lead to a drastic reduction in property values and a significant cut in tax revenue for the county. Herald and News reports:

"We reaffirmed we don’t believe dam removal is in the best interest of the county," [Supervisor Jim] Cook said after the meeting. "In the separate resolution, we said we’re opposed to the current settlement agreement." ...

Siskiyou County’s opposition was not expected to kill the agreement, but stakeholders said Tuesday they weren’t sure how the supervisors’ votes would impact the settlement process.

Cook believes that provisions of the agreement should be implemented.

"There are a number of things that are positive, things that can be done without dam removal," he said, citing promises by tribes not to pursue lawsuits, the opening of discussion between different interest groups, proposals to improve salmon populations and guarantees of water supplies for Upper Basin irrigators.

Read our earlier post on the subject here.