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World’s
Largest Dam Removal Agreement Reached
Dam
removal will restore 300 miles of ailing salmon and steelhead populations
Alexandria, VA – November 17, 2008 – In
a move lauded by the sportfishing industry, last week PacifiCorp, an energy
provider in the northwestern United States, agreed to remove four dams
on California’s Klamath River opening up more than 300 miles of habitat
for the Klamath’s salmon and steelhead populations and eliminate
water quality problems caused by the dams’ reservoirs. The Klamath
River was once the nation’s third-largest salmon producer.
In August 2006, the American Sportfishing Association (ASA) and 11 other
conservation groups requested that PacifiCorp remove the dams. This initiative
was sparked by the application filed by PacifiCorp for renewal of the Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission permits for the dams. The last time the permits
were renewed occurred long before most environmental laws were enacted.
The Agreement in Principle, released on November 13, is intended to guide the
development of a final settlement agreement in June 2009, which includes provisions
to remove PacifiCorp’s four main dams in 2020, a century after the first
dam was constructed.
“We are very pleased with PacifiCorp’s agreement to remove the dams
from the Klamath River,” said ASA Vice President Gordon Robertson. “This
historic agreement will allow for salmon and steelhead populations to once again
prosper benefiting fishing communities that depend on healthy fish populations
as well as recreational anglers.”
Robertson further said, “In a February 2007 meeting with PacifiCorp’s
President Bill Furman, ASA and other conservation community leaders were impressed
with the forthright and open manner of Mr. Furman as well as his commitment to
work with us to find a solution. President Bush, Secretary of the Interior Kempthorne
and California and Oregon along with Mr. Furman are to be commended for staying
focused and forging this historic agreement.”
PacifiCorp's four dams produce a nominal amount of power, which can be replaced
using alternate methods. A study by the California Energy Commission and the
Department of the Interior found that removing the dams and replacing their power
would save PacifiCorp customers up to $285 million over 30 years. PacifiCorp
also agreed to provide as much as $200 million dollars to cover the cost of removal
and to help restore the Klamath River.
According to the initial agreement, PacifiCorp will transfer control of the dams
to the federal government, although an independent third-party will be identified
to actually remove the dams.
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The American
Sportfishing Association (ASA) is
the sportfishing industry’s trade association, committed
to looking out for the interests of the entire sportfishing community.
We give the industry a unified voice, speaking out on its behalf
when emerging laws and policies could significantly affect sportfishing
business or sportfishing itself. We invest in long-term ventures
to ensure the industry will remain strong and prosperous as well
as safeguard and promote the enduring economic and conservation
values of sportfishing in America. ASA also represents the interests
of America’s 40 million anglers who generate over $45 billion
in retail sales with a $125 billion impact on the nation’s
economy creating employment for over one million people.
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