Utility to remove dams blocking salmon
LOS ANGELES - In a major boost for California’s dwindling salmon stocks, a utility company has agreed to the removal of four hydroelectric dams that for decades have blocked fish migrations on one of the West Coast’s most important salmon rivers.
The decommissioning is vital to restoring the Klamath River, for years the subject of bitter feuding among farmers, fishermen, and American Indian interests.
It would open spawning and rearing grounds on the upper reaches of the river.
“We can’t restore the river solely by removing the dams, but we can’t restore the Klamath without removing the dams,’’ said Steve Rothert of American Rivers, one of 26 parties negotiating the dam settlement.
Backers say the decommissioning - which will require federal approval - would be the largest and most complex dam removal in the United States.
“We’re about to make changes to the Klamath basin that will be observable from space,’’ said Craig Tucker of the Karuk Tribe of American Indians.
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“As a utility we don’t typically take dams out,’’ said PacifiCorp’s Dean Brockbank. “We have achieved an agreement that is in the best interest of our customers - the lowest cost and risk compared to the alternative.’’
Under the draft settlement, which the parties hope to sign by the end of the year, PacifiCorp would continue to operate the dams until 2020. Then they would transfer the facilities to another entity for dismantling.
The settlement terms call for PacifiCorp ratepayers to pay a surcharge to finance a company contribution of up to $200 million for dam removal and river channel restoration. The state of California would provide as much as $250 million in bonds.
