Eureka Times-Standard - Klamath restoration studies support dam removal; Project would create jobs, increase chinook harvest
September 22, 2011
By Donna Tam
The Klamath dam removal project would be an economic shot in the arm for communities throughout rural Northern California, according to studies released Wednesday.
The draft environmental impact statement and report -- containing environmental and economic analyses related to the removal project and subsequent restoration programs -- fulfills a major condition of the Klamath Hydroelectric Settlement Agreement, which was negotiated among state, local, tribal and water provider leaders to remove four dams from the Klamath River.
The public comment period for the documents opens today and runs through Nov. 21.
Steve Rothert, a spokesman for American Rivers, one of the project's stakeholders, said the release of the documents is a huge step forward.
”We have all been really on the edge of our seats anticipating the results of these studies, and I would say I am relieved that the studies confirmed the primary results and back up the information that has been available,” he said.
Rothert said the information indicates that the removal, and more importantly the restoration work, will benefit water quality, increase the chinook population and increase jobs -- ultimately benefiting the Klamath community as a whole.
”This is a home-grown solution for Klamath communities for a better future, for a better community,” he said.
Jobs, jobs, jobs
The agreement, signed by 40 parties in February 2010, marked a major milestone for tribes, fishermen and farmers who put aside years of conflict to negotiate the deal. Participants said the agreement will help avoid potential litigation that may stem from the relicensing process for Pacificorp, the owner of the dams. The agreement invests more than $700 million in the Klamath Basin over the next 15 years. Proponents said the plan protects and enhances a natural resource that is worth more than $750 million a year to the local economy.
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar is expected to make a decision on whether the project benefits the public by March 2012, after legislation for the funding of the project is completed.
Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., is working with local leaders in the basin to develop the legislation, which is expected to be introduced soon.
”Today's report demonstrates the benefits of the KBRA and the hard work that has gone on in the basin among farmers, tribes and the fishing and conservation communities over the last few years to create stability and end years of battling over water,” Merkely said in a statement. “The benefits include over 4,000 jobs, more certainty and jobs in the agriculture sector, a lower than expected cost for dam removal and improved habitat for salmon and steelhead.”
Congressman Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, said he is also pleased to see the project take another step forward.
”My support has been unwavering to see agreements in place that represent the best way forward for all of our river basin communities,” Thompson said in a statement. “Under the agreements, where dams along the river are removed, we will strengthen our river basin and our economy.”
According to an economic summary, the dam removal would create an estimated 1,400 jobs while the restoration program would employ 4,600 over a 15-year period. The removal would allow for conditions that would create hundreds of recreational and commercial fishing jobs.
For Humboldt County, the increase in jobs breaks down to 19 commercial fishing jobs. Other job increases for Humboldt and the surrounding areas include three in river sport fishing, 260 in fisheries, 16 in water programs, 10 in regulatory assurance and 25 in tribal programs. The removal would also mean a decrease in 14 whitewater boating positions.
Salmon and water quality
According to the report summary, the dam removal would reclaim 68 miles of historic coho salmon habitat and 420 miles of steelhead habitat. Although Salazar mentioned in a speech Monday that the removal would also increase commercially harvested chinook salmon production by more than 80 percent, the summary indicates that it is the average production of adult chinook that would increase by more than 80 percent, allowing greater harvest levels for fishermen. Chinook ocean commercial and sports harvest would increase by nearly 47 percent, while tribal harvest would increase by nearly 55 percent. Recreational river fisheries would increase by 9 percent.
Glen Spain of Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations said the report's findings bolster the project's momentum. The Oregon and California Public Utility Commissions also recently found that dam removal under the Klamath Settlement Agreement is not only in the public interest but far less costly for utility customers than relicensing.
The environmental impact documents also indicate dam removal would likely alleviate salmon disease outbreaks and would eliminate the river's massive toxic algae blooms. The Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuges would receive additional water, which could improve hunting and wildlife viewing. Other benefits include the enhancement of Klamath River Basin tribes' abilities to perform traditional ceremonies and practices.
Sediment, flooding and property values
The report summary also makes note of the movement of sediment, flooding and the possible loss of property values for land owners near the dams.
While the dam removal could move between one-third and two-thirds of the 13.1 million cubic yards of sediment currently stored within the reservoirs downstream to the Pacific Ocean, the report found that the majority of the material would not be deposited in the river channel or estuary. The sediment concentration may have lethal effects on some fish, but the populations are expected to quickly rebound after the removal is complete. Additionally, human health will not be affected.
”Chemical testing of reservoir bottom sediments indicate human health is not at risk due to contact with the sediment,” the summary said.
Mitigations for flooding include bringing down the level of water in reservoirs and streamflow diversion. The report indicates that the impact on property values is “difficult to forecast.”
Rothert said he can understand the concern over some of these issues, but hopes the report will ease some of those worries. For now, the project's future is in the hands of Congress.
”We are hopeful that members of the House who have criticized this will see that this isn't about politics, this isn't about right or left,” he said. “This is about people, this is about families, this is about jobs and this is about a better future.”
On the Web:
To view the reports and obtain a schedule for public hearings as well as instructions for submitting written comments, go to www.klamathrestoration.gov.
By the numbers:
Dam removal jobs: 1,400
Jobs created after removal: 333
Increase in average production of adult chinook salmon: 81.4 percent
Miles of reclaimed historical coho salmon habitat: 68
Miles of reclaimed steelhead habitat: 420
Cubic yards of sediment currently stored within the reservoirs: 13.1 million
Source: Klamath Dam removal EIR
The draft environmental impact statement and report -- containing environmental and economic analyses related to the removal project and subsequent restoration programs -- fulfills a major condition of the Klamath Hydroelectric Settlement Agreement, which was negotiated among state, local, tribal and water provider leaders to remove four dams from the Klamath River.
The public comment period for the documents opens today and runs through Nov. 21.
Steve Rothert, a spokesman for American Rivers, one of the project's stakeholders, said the release of the documents is a huge step forward.
”We have all been really on the edge of our seats anticipating the results of these studies, and I would say I am relieved that the studies confirmed the primary results and back up the information that has been available,” he said.
Rothert said the information indicates that the removal, and more importantly the restoration work, will benefit water quality, increase the chinook population and increase jobs -- ultimately benefiting the Klamath community as a whole.
”This is a home-grown solution for Klamath communities for a better future, for a better community,” he said.
Jobs, jobs, jobs
The agreement, signed by 40 parties in February 2010, marked a major milestone for tribes, fishermen and farmers who put aside years of conflict to negotiate the deal. Participants said the agreement will help avoid potential litigation that may stem from the relicensing process for Pacificorp, the owner of the dams. The agreement invests more than $700 million in the Klamath Basin over the next 15 years. Proponents said the plan protects and enhances a natural resource that is worth more than $750 million a year to the local economy.
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar is expected to make a decision on whether the project benefits the public by March 2012, after legislation for the funding of the project is completed.
Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., is working with local leaders in the basin to develop the legislation, which is expected to be introduced soon.
”Today's report demonstrates the benefits of the KBRA and the hard work that has gone on in the basin among farmers, tribes and the fishing and conservation communities over the last few years to create stability and end years of battling over water,” Merkely said in a statement. “The benefits include over 4,000 jobs, more certainty and jobs in the agriculture sector, a lower than expected cost for dam removal and improved habitat for salmon and steelhead.”
Congressman Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, said he is also pleased to see the project take another step forward.
”My support has been unwavering to see agreements in place that represent the best way forward for all of our river basin communities,” Thompson said in a statement. “Under the agreements, where dams along the river are removed, we will strengthen our river basin and our economy.”
According to an economic summary, the dam removal would create an estimated 1,400 jobs while the restoration program would employ 4,600 over a 15-year period. The removal would allow for conditions that would create hundreds of recreational and commercial fishing jobs.
For Humboldt County, the increase in jobs breaks down to 19 commercial fishing jobs. Other job increases for Humboldt and the surrounding areas include three in river sport fishing, 260 in fisheries, 16 in water programs, 10 in regulatory assurance and 25 in tribal programs. The removal would also mean a decrease in 14 whitewater boating positions.
Salmon and water quality
According to the report summary, the dam removal would reclaim 68 miles of historic coho salmon habitat and 420 miles of steelhead habitat. Although Salazar mentioned in a speech Monday that the removal would also increase commercially harvested chinook salmon production by more than 80 percent, the summary indicates that it is the average production of adult chinook that would increase by more than 80 percent, allowing greater harvest levels for fishermen. Chinook ocean commercial and sports harvest would increase by nearly 47 percent, while tribal harvest would increase by nearly 55 percent. Recreational river fisheries would increase by 9 percent.
Glen Spain of Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations said the report's findings bolster the project's momentum. The Oregon and California Public Utility Commissions also recently found that dam removal under the Klamath Settlement Agreement is not only in the public interest but far less costly for utility customers than relicensing.
The environmental impact documents also indicate dam removal would likely alleviate salmon disease outbreaks and would eliminate the river's massive toxic algae blooms. The Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuges would receive additional water, which could improve hunting and wildlife viewing. Other benefits include the enhancement of Klamath River Basin tribes' abilities to perform traditional ceremonies and practices.
Sediment, flooding and property values
The report summary also makes note of the movement of sediment, flooding and the possible loss of property values for land owners near the dams.
While the dam removal could move between one-third and two-thirds of the 13.1 million cubic yards of sediment currently stored within the reservoirs downstream to the Pacific Ocean, the report found that the majority of the material would not be deposited in the river channel or estuary. The sediment concentration may have lethal effects on some fish, but the populations are expected to quickly rebound after the removal is complete. Additionally, human health will not be affected.
”Chemical testing of reservoir bottom sediments indicate human health is not at risk due to contact with the sediment,” the summary said.
Mitigations for flooding include bringing down the level of water in reservoirs and streamflow diversion. The report indicates that the impact on property values is “difficult to forecast.”
Rothert said he can understand the concern over some of these issues, but hopes the report will ease some of those worries. For now, the project's future is in the hands of Congress.
”We are hopeful that members of the House who have criticized this will see that this isn't about politics, this isn't about right or left,” he said. “This is about people, this is about families, this is about jobs and this is about a better future.”
On the Web:
To view the reports and obtain a schedule for public hearings as well as instructions for submitting written comments, go to www.klamathrestoration.gov.
By the numbers:
Dam removal jobs: 1,400
Jobs created after removal: 333
Increase in average production of adult chinook salmon: 81.4 percent
Miles of reclaimed historical coho salmon habitat: 68
Miles of reclaimed steelhead habitat: 420
Cubic yards of sediment currently stored within the reservoirs: 13.1 million
Source: Klamath Dam removal EIR