Klamath River Dams Removal

Klamath River Dams Removal

There are a many moving parts to the story about the Klamath Basin Restoration agreement — which details taking out four dams. In addition to the dams being removed — this agreement would also include the settling of water rights dispute, and spells out water allocations for irrigators and wildlife refuges in the Klamath Basin — something that this areas farmers and ranchers really need.
Oregon Upper Klamath Water Users and rancher Becky Hatfield Hyde says that these dams are outdated, not generating much hydroelectricity nor do they have safe fish passages for the endangered salmon and sucker fish.
Hyde: “It allows fish passage if the dams are removed. The companion agreement — that expired when it didn’t pass Congress last year — the parties are busy trying to resurrect the pieces of that which are very, very critical to agriculture. We are also putting in placeholders in to make sure have we have those necessary regulatory assurances in place when the fish come so that our producers are not negatively impacted by them being there. So habitat conservation plan or general conservation plan — it is specific things under the Endangered Species Act that protect landowners. Those things are very key components for agriculture supporting this dam removal. Those things have to be in place because we don’t want the fish in our backyard if we are not ready for them and if puts us in any jeopardy. I would say that the other parties — the tribes, the moderate conservation groups around that table understand that.”
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