U.S. Government Deal Pushes For Removal Of 4 Klamath River Dams In 2020

November 14, 2008 6:13 a.m. EST

Sacramento, CA (AHN) - The U.S. Interior Department, the states of California and Oregon, and dam operator PacificCorp signed Friday a non-binding agreement to demolish four hydroelectric dams along Klamath River starting 2020.

The agreement is in line with fishermen'' demand for unimpeded upstream migration of salmon to prevent the deaths of fish returning to the river to spawn, increase the fish population and boost the production of the West Coast commercial fishing industry. The dams provide electricity to 70,000 homes in the region but prevents salmon from swimming to their spawning habitat.

At the same time, the deal will provide water, cheap electricity and land for farmers in the Klamath Basin as well as facilitate a $1 billion habitat restoration project by Indian tribes, conservation groups, farmers and fishermen.

Under the deal, PacificCorp will turn over the dams to a Congress-created private entity that will eventually demolish the structures built between 1908 and 1962. It provides that a binding agreement to that effect must be reached by June 30, 2009 but the company will continue operating the dams until these are removed.

The demolition is to be the biggest such undertaking in U.S. history and is estimated to cost PacificCorp $450 million and California another $250 million.