Opinion

Editorial: Deal brings hope to Klamath basin

Monday, January 21, 2008

"For complexity, the years-long water war along the Klamath River rivals the Middle East. A list of contending parties, long-held grievances and state borders have strained hopes of settlement. Until now.

Some two dozen interest groups ranging from back-country sugar beet farmers to coastal fishing groups have reached an agreement that could lead to demolition of four century-old dams straddling the California-Oregon border. Much remains undecided such as the source of an estimated $1 billion to remove the dams and improve the river system.

But it's hard to miss the main point: nearly all sides believe the dams can come down. If that happens, the demolition work would produce the largest dam removal in the nation. Operators of other river-blocking barriers will be on notice.

For now, focusing on this river alone will do. The Klamath, once a productive storehouse of salmon, is a sickly stream due to diversions, pollution and the targeted dams near its headwaters some 350 miles from the Pacific Ocean."

Get the Story:
Editorial: A deal on Klamath's dams (The San Francisco Chronicle 1/21)

Another Story:
Tribal land plan clouds dam deal (The Oregonian 1/20)

Relevant Links:
Hoopa Valley Tribe - http://www.hoopa-nsn.gov
Karuk Tribe - http://karuk.us
Klamath Tribes - http://www.klamathtribes.org
PacifiCorp - http://www.pacificorp.com