Hydropower Reform Coalition - California

FERC issues a license for Santa Felicia project in California

Rupak Thapaliya — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 15:04:13 -0500

FERC issued a 40-year license today to United Water Conservation District for operation of Santa Felicia hydroelectric project in Ventura County, CA.

Although the project boundary contains endangered and threatened species such as Southern California steelhead, Santa Ana sucker. Southwestern Arroyo toad, and California red legged frog, it was determined that the project would only affect Southern California steelhead. Last year, the National Marine and Fisheries Service (NMFS), through its Biological Opinion (BO), provided a list of measures that could be undertaken to protect the species. Among the measures was a study to analyze the need for fish passage, which the licensee will have to perform within the first year. Within the first three years, United is also required to formulate a plan to provide whitewater boating portage around Santa Felicia dam.

Coalition members American Whitewater, California Trout and Trout Unlimited had participated in the license proceeding for this 1.4 MW project.

PG&E Study Looks at British Columbia Run-of-River Projects as Potential Green Energy for California

Rich Bowers — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:16:51 -0500

PG&E Study Looks at British Columbia Run-of-River Projects as Potential Green Energy for California

On June 20, 2008 Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) produced the attached BC Renewable Study Phase I report. In 2007, the California Public Utilities Commission approved D.07-03-013, which grants PG&E the authority to recover up to $14 million for external consultants to study the feasibility of obtaining renewable power from various regions in British Columbia (BC) and the potential to transmit this power to PG&E’s service area.

As reported earlier, independent power producers (IPP’s) have applied for permits for more than 500 dams on more than 300 rivers and streams in BC. Unlike the United States, Canada’s regulatory structure for hydropower dams does not allow meaningful public participation, and river activists and outdoor recreationists are just getting organized to fight these new dams, some of which are already under construction.

The PG&E report changes the equation regarding Canadian hydroelectric power being sold to US markets, as IPP’s have long argued that the power produced from local resources would remain in BC. It also affects US Consumers in two ways: 1. in our need to be involved and educated about BC river issues, and 2. Potential future changes to California’s existing Renewable Portfolio Standard, and to new National Portfolio Standards which may be established after the upcoming election.

For BC river interests, the study provides good educational ammunition against many of the claims by the IPP’s. The report demonstrates that:

BC has an existing surplus of energy
Run-of-river projects are not the green source IPP’s have claimed (and would not meet California’s definition of clean, green and renewable*).
Hydroelectric power produced by BC rivers will not be used exclusively in BC.
Dealing with IPP’s vs. a centralized BC Hydro is not a benefit for outside purchasers like PG&E.

* “Based upon PG&E’s initial research, BC Run-Of-River hydro facilities would not be qualified as RPS eligible resources.” Under California legislation, hydro generation facilities are RPS-eligible if they meet all of the following criteria:

Do not cause a change in volume or timing of stream flow;
Are less than or equal to 30 MW; and
Do not cause an adverse impact on instream beneficial uses.

The study also changes the equation for US river advocates and consumers as well. What is our responsibility to protect river resources beyond our borders, especially if our need for energy results in resource impacts elsewhere? And perhaps a moral obligation, not to get involved with BC regulations, but to take the lessons learned through our work on US rivers and uses these lessons to protect rivers regardless of location? More specifically, the report provides an alert for potential future changes in:

California’s definition of renewable hydropower

Modifications to existing RPS rules (CA and elsewhere) that would make importing energy from other areas more viable.

Legislative changes regarding new small hydro generation.

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PGE BC Energy Study 6 08.pdf	51.22 KB

Hydro project in California to get production tax credits

Rupak Thapaliya — Tue, 27 May 2008 11:35:00 -0500

Project: Pit 3, 4, & 5 : P-233

FERC has certified the Pit 3, 4 & 5 hydroelectric projects on the Pit River in California to be eligible for production tax credits (PTC) under the Energy Policy Act of 2005.

In July 2007, PG&E had completed a turbine upgrade by installing a new runner, new wicket gates, and upgrading other electrical and mechanical components. This, according to PG&E, improved the generation efficiency by 0.31%.

The EPAct 2005 allows for hydropower facilities to receive tax credits if there is efficiency improvement or capacity addition.

Benefit Dinner to Un-dam Klamath

Rupak Thapaliya — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 09:08:31 -0600

Project: Klamath : P-2082

A benefit dinner is being organized to remove dams from the Klamath River that have been disturbing the habitat for salmon, trout and other species for a long time. The Klamath hydroproject owned by Pacificorp includes four dams that are not only disturbing fish migration and spawning but also polluting the river with toxic algae.

Local fishermen, tribes and environmental groups have long opposed the dams. Even the California Energy Commission calls it the "most environmentally damaging energy project in CA." A recent analysis by FERC concluded that dam removal would be cheaper by $7 million a year, thus saving money for the owner, state and tax payers.

A short video developed by American Rivers, with funding from Hydropower Reform Coalition, explains the need to remove the dams for restoration of Klamath River.

The $5-$15 dinner will include live music, a multimedia presentation, and silent auction. See the Klamath Riverkeeper's event page for more details on the event.

Settlement reached for Klamath's future

Rupak Thapaliya — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 12:18:16 -0600

Project: Klamath : P-2082

After years of negotiations, the Klamath River Basin Restoration Agreement, or simply a settlement agreement was finalized yesterday. The settlement agreement aims to restore salmon population, revitalize commercial fishing and support farming by local tribes while also hoping that irrigation water will be more appropriately allocated. Pacific Corps, the owner of the project, however, did not participate in the the settlement.

On the other hand, discussions for the removal of the four dams is still ongoing. Last month, FERC, in its Environmental Assessment determined that dam removal would be the most economical option.

Read the LA Times article on the settlement here.

FERC Recommends Keeping Klamath Dams

Keith Nakatani — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 16:28:02 -0600

Project: Klamath : P-2082

In the recently issued final environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Klamath Project, FERC took a bewildering position siding with PacifiCorp by recommending the continued operations of five hydroelectric dams. Previously, federal agencies issued “mandatory conditions” that PacifiCorp will have to comply with to get a new license, the most significant being the construction of fish ladders and screens to meet the legal requirement to ensure fish passage. FERC’s analysis concluded that fish ladders and other measures, estimated by a federal study to cost up to $470 million, makes removing four of the five dams more economical than keeping the dams in place. FERC also concluded that removing the Klamath River dams would improve water quality, salmon productivity and reduce fish disease. Yet, FERC recommended keeping the dams and “trapping and hauling” fish to their historic habitat upstream of PacifiCorp’s project. This recommendation ignores the federal mandatory requirements to construct fish ladders.

Further confusing the issue, FERC stated that mandatory conditions “may need to be included in a new license” and “incorporation of these mandatory conditions into a new license would cause us to modify or eliminate some of the environmental measures that we include in the Staff Alternative.”

On the other hand, FERC acknowledges that only dam removal will produce the full range of environmental benefits such as colder, cleaner water and improved spawning habitat, and that removing the four dams is cheaper, by $7 million per year, than keeping the dams and installing fish ladders and other measures. This can be interpreted as strengthening the argument to remove the dams.

All parties now have until the end of the year to submit comments about the final EIS. Before FERC can issue a new license to PacifiCorp, Oregon and California must issue their Clean Water Act Section 401 water quality certifications for the project, We expect that process could take up to another year. In the meantime, stakeholders continue to negotiate a settlement agreement about the fate of the dams and other basin restoration issues.

American Rivers & NOAA now accepting proposals for river restoration grants

John Seebach — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 14:48:12 -0500

American Rivers seeks proposals for river restoration project grants as part of its partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Community-based Restoration Program. Program funding is provided through NOAA’s Open Rivers Initiative, which seeks to enable environmental and economic renewal in local communities through the removal of stream barriers.

This Partnership funds stream barrier removal projects that help restore riverine ecosystems, enhance public safety and community resilience, and have clear and identifiable benefits to diadromous fish populations. Diadromous fish migrate between freshwater and saltwater during their life cycle. Examples include alewife, American eel, American shad, blueback herring, salmon, steelhead, shortnose sturgeon and striped bass. Projects in the Northeast (ME, NH, VT, MA, CT, RI), Mid-Atlantic (NY, NJ, PA, DE, VA, MD, DC), Northwest (WA, OR, ID), and California are eligible to apply. Projects located within the St. Lawrence/Great Lakes Basin are not eligible for funding in the December 2007 grant round.

Eligible applications will be evaluated based upon four priority criteria:

Ecological merits of the project,
Technical feasibility of the project,
Benefits provided to the local community, and
Financial clarity and strength of the application.

Grants are provided for three distinct project phases: Feasibility Analysis, Engineering Design and Construction. Average grants are $25,000 - $50,000. Successful applicants for one project phase will not be eligible to receive additional funding for that same project phase in future grant rounds. See the Funding Guidelines for additional details.

Applications are currently being accepted for the first cycle of fiscal year 2008 with a deadline of December 3, 2007. Applications for projects must be postmarked by the deadline for consideration in this funding cycle. Potential applicants should contact American Rivers to discuss potential projects prior to submitting an application. Applicants can expect notification about funding decisions in early March 2008.

Obtain the Application for Financial Assistance and Funding Guidelines on the American Rivers web site.

Wall Street Journal: Dam the Salmon

Rebecca Sherman — Thu, 31 May 2007 12:38:17 -0500

The Wall Street Journal (www.wsj.com) published an opinion-editorial called "Dam the Salmon" from a Reason.com analyst. The analyst, describing conservationists as "greens," begins:

If their opposition to the Klamath hydroelectric dams in the Pacific Northwest is any indication, the greens, it appears, are just as unwilling to sacrifice their pet causes as a Texas rancher is to sacrifice his pickup truck. If anything, the radicalization of the environmental movement is the bigger obstacle to addressing global warming than the allegedly gluttonous American way of life.

The American way of life is allegedly excessive? Conservation is the problem behind global warming? Fascinating. The reply from American Rivers, available on their blog, and published by the WSJ reads:

Are the readers of the Wall Street Journal supposed to be horrified when an outmoded 100 year-old factory closes its doors? Of course not.

But that’s exactly the sort of irrational economic logic Ms. Dalmia proposes should protect all hydro dams into the infinite future.

Another letter from Friends of the River, also published, says:

[S]he neglects to mention at any point that a staggering 95% of the Klamath's native salmon population has been destroyed. Stepping in to protect the remaining 5% of a critical species is hardly a "radical" environmental position.

[She also] alleges that environmentalists have "rejected all attempts by PacifiCorp... to take mitigation steps... to create a salmon pathway." This is not true. PacifiCorp only considered mitigation because it was required to and its only genuine proposal was to catch migrating salmon, load them into trucks and drive them upstream -- a plan best characterized as absurd.

The WSJ published a third letter to the editor from a California resident, Scott Christensen, who points out that "there is nothing "cheap and renewable" about energy production that results in the destruction of wild salmon and steelhead runs and the jobs that depend on them."

Historic settlement agreement for Upper American River

Keith Nakatani — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 16:59:01 -0600

Project: Upper American River : P-2101

Five years after beginning relicensing negotiations, conservation, fishing, and boating organizations won a major victory when, along with federal and state agencies, they signed a historic settlement agreement with the Sacramento Municipal Utility District for the Upper American River and Chili Bar projects. The settlement will:

- Greatly increase minimum flows on all river segments.

- Create pulse flows on the Rubicon River, South Fork Silver Creek, and Gerle Creek.

- Create fish passage and restore channels on Gerle Creek.

- Produce reliable whitewater flows on the South Fork American River and South Fork Silver Creek.

-Improve campgrounds, boat ramps, and other recreational facilities around SMUD reservoirs.

The 7 - 8 percent power loss resulting from the agreement will be made up for by flexible power generation during the summer and the construction of the Iowa Hill Project.

In May 2006, the prognosis for settlement was not good, when SMUD suddenly pulled out of negotiations and river advocates feared they would request a time-consuming and costly "trial-type hearing" challenging resource agency prescriptions. In response, river advocates intensified their activities by producing a report comparing the SMUD proposal to one supported by river advocates and resource agencies, packing SMUD Board meetings, coordinating a letter-writing campaign to the SMUD Board, and prompting regular media coverage. Several months later, Klamath river advocates won a resounding victory in the country's first "trial-type hearing", possibly causing concern amongst utilities about undertaking such endeavors.

Then in November 2006, all the stakeholders agreed in principle about license conditions. This culminated in the signing of the settlement agreement, which will produce substantial environmental and recreational benefits.

A complete article from the SF Bay Area Independent Media Center is at: http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2007/02/07/18359128.php

SF Chronicle: Take Down the Klamath Dams

Keith Nakatani — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 13:27:47 -0600

Project: Klamath : P-2082

The San Francisco Chronicle weighed in with an editorial stating the removal of the four Klamath dams is close. The editorial highlights the current situation--feds want prohibitively expensive fish ladders, which may lead to dam removal--which keeps the pressure on PacifiCorp and government officials.

The editorial is below:

Take down the dams

Tuesday, February 6, 2007

FOR YEARS, Indian tribes, conservationists and fishing groups have argued that removing four power dams blocking the headwaters of the Klamath River would reverse the losses of once-plentiful salmon.

Free flows of cold water are what the fish need, and the fearsome foursome of dams near the Oregon border were major impediments.

Now the federal bureaucracy has joined the chorus in a roundabout way. As a result, taking down the barriers has never been closer.

Because the dams need new licenses to operate, federal agencies have taken a long look. The results aren't pretty for the dam operator, PacificCorp, owned by billionaire philanthropist Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Corp.

To keep the dams humming, Commerce and Interior agencies now want $300 million in fish ladders and screens. This price tag may be too high for PacificCorp, which cranks out only enough power to light 70,000 homes.

A miracle lies within reach. One of the country's biggest dam removal projects could begin, affording a chance at returning surging waters not seen for almost a century. Easing this change is the fact that Washington controls most of the land along the river course, and no major city lies downstream. Taking out other dams on big rivers won't be this easy.

Much remains to complete the dam demolition dream. Sediment behind the dam walls must be considered. Other tolls on the Klamath's health such as timber cuts, farm diversions and human building should be weighed.

But an amazing change is suddenly attainable. The dams that have plagued a once-mighty salmon river may come down. A river's past could be restored.

Mammoth Pool license application open for comment

John Seebach — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 09:40:35 -0600

Project: Mammoth Pool : P-2085

Southern California Edison filed a license application for its 190 MW Mammoth Pool Project in California's San Joaquin watershed in November 2005. Comments, protests, and motions to intervene are due on February 3, 2007.

FERC staff get earful from public on Klamath project

John Seebach — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 13:01:07 -0600

Project: Klamath : P-2082

Responding to public demand (and, in several cases, to direct requests from members of Congress), FERC staff held a series of meetings so that the public could raise concerns the Klamath project. The message they heard was loud and clear: restore the Klamath River and its fish.

As of this writing, there are two scheduled public meetings remaining before the December 1, 2006 deadline for comments on FERC's draft EIS.

Interested members of the public are encouraged to attend these meetings. FERC also held several earlier meetings:

Klamath Falls, OR: November 14 (morning)
Yreka, CA: November 15 (morning and evening)
Eureka, CA: November 16 (evening)

All of these meetings appear to have drawn a large, diverse audience; the meeting in Eureka apparently drew more than 500, with a local paper (the Times-Standard) reporting that others were being turned away. From the Times-Standard article:

[S]peaker after speaker demand[ed that] the agency consider removing the dams instead of letting them continue to operate. [...] Repeatedly FERC staff was admonished for not analyzing removal of the four dams, and were called on to heed a recent California Coastal Conservancy study that holds that decommissioning the structures is not nearly as expensive as building fish ladders. They were also told that the federal document fails to address the cultural costs off the dams to American Indian tribes like the Yurok, Hoopa and Karuk, or economic costs to fishermen.

This article in the North Coast Journal captures a particularly interesting moment from the Eureka hearing where one man stood up, introduced himself as a rancher and farmer, and led with some negative comments about environmentalists. But the real story is what he said next:

"We want FERC to know that we don't need these dams for our irrigation, or flood control, and that we are getting no benefit from the meager electrical output. We want FERC to know that the Klamath dams have not only lived out their usefulness as electric generators, they might have also lived out the life blood of the river: the salmon. If that happens and the salmon die, also dies the life blood to the soul of the Klamath's native peoples. That cannot be allowed to happen. We want to tell FERC that we will see to it that our neighbors are not stomped on, broken or bankrupted as we make sure these dams are decommissioned."

We're glad that FERC is taking the time to hold these meetings. We can only hope that they will listen carefully to what the public has to say.

There's more information in these articles and press releases:

Yurok Tribe Press Release (11/14/2006)
The Times-Standard (11/15/2006)
The Associated Press (11/15/2006)
The World (OR) (11/30/06)

FERC issues preliminary permit for Helltown Ravine project

John Seebach — Thu, 02 Nov 2006 23:00:00 -0600

Project: De Sabla : P-803

FERC issued a preliminary permit for a proposed 515kW project that would use flows discharged from a canal on PG&E's DeSabla-Centerville Project. From the order (docket P-12652):

On February 28, 2006, Gerald M. Lutticken (the permittee) filed an application for a three-year preliminary permit under Section 4(f) of the Federal Power Act (FPA) 1 to study the proposed Helltown Ravine Hydroelectric Project No. 12652. The proposed project would develop unused generating capacity at Pacific Gas & Electric's (PG&E) licensed DeSabla- Centerville Project No. 803, using flows discharged from Project No. 803's Upper Centerville Canal, and consist of: (1) an intake located at the end of PG&E's Upper Centerville Canal, (2) a proposed 3,800-foot-long penstock, (3) a proposed powerhouse having a total installed capacity of 515 kilowatts, located near the intersection of Project No. 803's Lower Centerville Canal and Helltown Ravine, (4) a proposed 13.8-kilovolt, 1.5-mile-long transmission line, and (5) appurtenant facilities. The proposed project would have an average annual generation of 1,430,000 kilowatt-hours, which would be sold to a local utility.

Klamath River DEIS released

Rebecca Sherman — Tue, 26 Sep 2006 13:52:02 -0500

Project: Klamath : P-2082

On September 25, 2006, FERC released a draft environmental impact statement for the Klamath River Project. FERC's draft does not analyze removing the lower four dams, as many stakeholders have called for in the licensing process. The statement does acknowledge removal of two dams, but does not call for removal in its preferred alternative.

Below is a statement from several Coalition members on a preliminary review of the DEIS:

NEWS: FERC's Klamath Draft EIS Falls Short

September 25, 2006

Contact:

Steve Rothert, American Rivers, 530-277-0448

Curtis Knight, California Trout, 530-859-1872

Glen Spain, PCFFA, 541-521-8655

Chuck Bonham, Trout Unlimited, 510-917-8572

Jim McCarthy, Oregon Natural Resources Council, 541-201-1058

Kelly Catlett, Friends of the River, 916-442-3155 x223

Washington, D.C. -- The proposed license provisions for PacifiCorp’s Klamath hydro project contained in FERC’s Draft Environmental Impact Statement released today fall far short of what agencies, tribes and conservation groups believe is necessary to restore the Klamath River.

“PacifiCorp and its predecessors have received cheap power for over 90 years at the expense of the river and the people who depend on it. FERC’s proposal extends PacifiCorp’s sweetheart deal and would result in 50 more years of conflict over PacifiCorp’s dams,” said Steve Rothert of American Rivers.

“Throughout, FERC unduly defers to PacifiCorp’s wishes and recommends measures that will do little to mitigate the impacts of the dams or restore damaged west coast salmon fisheries,” said Glen Spain, of Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations (PCFFA). “Today most of that salmon fishery is closed down, in large part because of these dams. There is no stronger case for decommissioning dams than in the Klamath.”

The five dam complex blocks salmon from reaching 350 miles of historic river habitat above the dams. The National Marine Fisheries Service’s preliminary prescriptions would require PacifiCorp to provide fish ladders, screens and other measures at all project dams. However, FERC, in clear contradiction of federal law, reduced the agency’s comprehensive passage plan down to possibly reintroducing fish to only a single river reach after a trial period.

“Klamath salmon are in real danger; they need real solutions. FERC’s paltry fish passage recommendation is both legally insupportable and biologically ineffective,” said Steve Rothert of American Rivers.

The PacifiCorp dams produce only 2 percent of PacifiCorp’s electricity, but severely damage water quality and have become reservoirs for toxic algae and fish diseases, killing many juvenile salmon before they can migrate out to sea. Salmon survival rates in the Klamath River in recent years have been so poor that fewer adult salmon have returned this year than can support a fishery. This has triggered widespread coastal fishing closures over 700 miles of coastline, and on August 10th, Secretary of Commerce Gutierrez declared a “fishery failure” disaster in California and Oregon because of the Klamath declines.

In the summer, the dams reduce flows by as much as 90 percent along more than 20 river miles below their dams. Resource agencies required PacifiCorp to limit its diversions to only 60 percent of the river flow. However, FERC slashed the agencies’ requirement by 75 percent, requiring PacifiCorp to increase flows by only 100 cfs in dewatered reaches. “Once again, FERC is throwing sound science to the wind by ignoring overwhelming evidence from agency, tribal and NGO experts that indicates the river needs more water,” said Curtis Knight of California Trout.

FERC analyzed the possibility of removing Iron Gate Dam and Copco 1 Dam and concluded the removal of one or more dam would have a “substantial” benefit on water quality and would enhance the prospects of restoring anadromous fish populations. As for cost, if FERC had not reduced the agency salmon reintroduction prescription to a small trial effort, the cost of dam removal would be greater than keeping the dams and installing fish passage facilities. For example, FERC estimated the annual cost of removing Iron Gate and Copco 1 at approximately $14.4 million, including power losses. The annual cost of installing fish ladders, screens and other passage measures as required by fishery agencies is estimated to be $16.6 million - $2.2 million more expensive than dam removal. “If FERC stayed within its authority and left the agency prescription intact, it would have identified dam removal as the cheaper option,” said Kelly Catlett of Friends of the River.

"PacifiCorp's dams have blocked Klamath salmon from returning to Oregon for nearly 100 years, but we will continue to fight to remove the dams and bring the salmon home," said Jim McCarthy, Klamath Basin Wildlife Advocate.

In a related proceeding, Klamath relicensing stakeholders await the results of a hearing on the recommended terms and conditions issued by the resource agencies. In a new proceeding created by the Energy Policy Act of 2005, PacifiCorp requested the hearing held in August to challenge the scientific underpinnings of the agency provisions. The Coast Guard Administrative Law Judge’s ruling, which is expected by the end of September, could affect the what license terms FERC ultimately includes in PacifiCorp’s license.

More press for river restoration on the Klamath

John Seebach — Mon, 14 Aug 2006 16:02:01 -0500

Project: Klamath : P-2082

The Eugene, OR Register Guard just published an editorial that does a good job of connecting the dots between the damage caused by PacifiCorp's Klamath river project and the West Coast's devastated salmon fishing industry. The editors see dam removal as part of the solution:

In another potentially major breakthrough, PacifiCorp, the Portland-based utility that owns the four Klamath dams, recently issued a statement that it's open to the removal of its Klamath dams. With PacifiCorp in the midst of an arduous relicensing process that could result in the company being ordered to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on fish-passage retrofitting, the prospects for removal of the dams have never been brighter.

The entire editorial is worth a read. It puts the damage caused by the hydropower project into greater perspective, showing how a highly-stressed river system has put an entire industry in danger of extinction:

[Congress and the White House] must also make the major investment necessary to fix the real cause of the salmon crisis: a Klamath River that once supported the third-largest salmon runs on the West Coast but has become one of the nation's most fouled-up waterways.
[...]

The Klamath's woes are many and complex. Its salmon are being killed by excessive water diversions from the federal irrigation project that provides water to the basin's farmers, by hydroelectric dams that block migrating salmon and turn the river into an unnaturally warm petri dish for fish-killing algae and bacteria, by unsound logging practices that contribute to erosion, by agricultural runoff, and by the loss of critical wetlands habitat.

Federal disaster aid is essential for fishermen who are at risk of losing their boats and livelihoods - and for the businesses and coastal communities that rely on healthy fisheries for survival. But what they ultimately need is a river that produces bumper crops of healthy salmon.

[...]

The Klamath can be saved. All it takes it the political will - and vision - to do it.

Rivers of Power

Lindsey Pernell — Sat, 15 Apr 2006 16:26:20 -0500

Rivers of Power: A Citizen's Guide to River Restoration through Hydropower Reform was jointly published by the California Hydopower Reform Coalition and Friends of the River in April, 2006. The publication addresses why hydropower relicensing is an important opportunity for river restoration, specific points in the process where there is opportunity for stakeholder involvement, and who the major players are. Additionally, several of California's river restoration successes are highlighted.

Attachment	Size
Rivers of Power.pdf	2.76 MB

Federal Court Rules More Water for the Klamath River

John Seebach — Tue, 28 Mar 2006 06:00:00 -0600

Project: Klamath : P-2082

For Immediate Release: March 27, 2006

Contacts:
Kristen Boyles, Earthjustice: 206.343.7340 x33
Glen Spain, PCFFA: 541-521-8655
Tim McKay, NEC: 707-822-6918

San Francisco, CA - On the eve of a potential salmon fishing closure that would devastate coastal communities and fishing families in California and Oregon, a federal court today ruled that the Bush administration can not continue to strangle water flows in the Klamath River in years with average or below rainfall. The court sided with fishing and conservation groups that have been seeking a more balanced distribution of water needed to rebuild Klamath River salmon stocks. The court ordered the federal Bureau of Reclamation to provide river flows needed for coho salmon now, instead of waiting for five more years to pass.

"This order will help prevent the kinds of closures we're seeing this year and last year and help make the Klamath River a healthier place for salmon," said Glen Spain of PCFFA. " After years of uncertainty, we finally know what needs to be done for water for fish, and farmers and fishermen can plan accordingly." PCFFA is the west coast's largest organization of commercial fishing families.

The court's order, which sets a floor for in-river flows, comes during a high water period on the Klamath. "We stand ready to make any changes as smooth as possible for all our communities," continued Spain.

Salmon advocates have been pointing to the plan's inadequacies since it was released in May 2002. Indeed, as soon as it was implemented and water diversions to upstream farmers began, juvenile salmon died in the river. A severe shortage of adult Klamath River salmon this year is traced directly to the effects of diverting Klamath water to irrigators. This shortage resulted in commercial salmon fishermen losing about 50 percent of their normal fishing season in 2005. In 2003, the court struck down the long-term portion of the plan but ordered no change to current operations.

Because Klamath River coho are protected as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act, the National Marine Fisheries Service must approve any irrigation plan devised by the Bureau of Reclamation that relies on taking water from the Klamath River. In May 2002, the Fisheries Service held that the Bureau's plan would jeopardize the continued survival of the Klamath River coho, but failed to require adequate measures to protect the salmon.

Five months after the plan was adopted, in the fall of 2002, low flows caused by unbalanced irrigation deliveries killed as many as 70,000 adult salmon. However months earlier, during the spring of 2002, juvenile salmon died in the river from low water conditions.

"Today a court told the Bush administration to strike a better balance so it doesn't kill all the salmon in the river," said Tim McKay of Northcoast Environmental Center. "This order will help make sure that downstream communities that depend on salmon aren't left high and dry."

"It's time for the federal agencies to stop making excuses and start working to protect salmon in the Klamath River," said Kristen Boyles of Earthjustice. " The Klamath was once the third mightiest salmon-producing river in the continental US, behind only the Columbia and Sacramento. We need to start now to bring it back."

The case was filed by Earthjustice on behalf of PCFFA, Institute for Fisheries Resources, The Wilderness Society, WaterWatch of Oregon, Northcoast Environmental Center, Oregon Natural Resources Council, Defenders of Wildlife, Klamath Forest Alliance, and Headwaters. In the district court, these groups were joined by Congressman Mike Thompson (D-Napa) and the Yurok and Hoopa Valley Tribes; amicus briefs supporting the plaintiffs were filed by the Cities of Arcata and Eureka, Del Norte, Humboldt, and Trinity Counties, and the Humboldt Bay, Harbor, Recreation and Conservation District.For more information on the Klamath Basin and a copy of the opinion, please visit Earthjustice's webite.

Oroville Settlement Benefits Feather River and Local Community

John Seebach — Tue, 21 Mar 2006 06:00:00 -0600

Project: Oroville : P-2100

Contact:
Steve Rothert, American Rivers: 530-277-0448
Amy Kober, American Rivers: 206-213-0330 x23

Oroville, CA -- Salmon and steelhead of the Feather River, along with the many people who fish and boat there, will benefit from an agreement covering operations of the Oroville hydroelectric project, to be signed today in Oroville. American Rivers praised settlement parties for reaching this agreement, which forms the basis of a new 50-year operating license for the project.

The agreement is the result of two years of negotiations among over 40 parties including American Rivers, federal and state agencies, local governments, water providers and Native American tribes. It will now be submitted to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for approval.

"For years the Oroville project has harmed salmon and steelhead habitat and has limited opportunities for fishing, boating and other recreation," said Steve Rothert of American Rivers. "This agreement restores some balance to the river, and includes many benefits for clean water, fish and wildlife and local communities."

At 770 feet high, Oroville Dam is the tallest in the United States. It is the main water storage facility for California's State Water Project, which supplies water to some 23 million municipal and agricultural customers from San Diego to Redding. Owned by the state and operated by the Department of Water Resources (DWR), the project has a generating capacity of 750MW.

The water supply and hydropower operations of Oroville Dam cause significant adverse impacts to the Feather River, including the degradation and loss of spawning and rearing habitat for listed spring run Chinook and steelhead trout, degraded water quality, loss of beneficial sediments and large woody debris, and diminished river recreation opportunities.

"We have a responsibility to fix some of the damage dams cause to our rivers," Rothert said. "It is simple common sense to bring these old dams up to date with today's science, technology, and laws. This agreement for Oroville Dam makes both environmental and economic sense."

The agreement will remedy some of the impacts caused by the project's operations. Key components include:

Restored salmon and steelhead habitat: Downstream of the dam, DWR will improve flows and water temperatures, add spawning gravels and large woody debris, and restore floodplain and side-channel habitat.
Better river recreation: DWR will add river access points and campsites to create a 15-mile-long Feather River bluewater trail. A new park with trails, picnic areas, an interpretive center and boat launching areas will be constructed. DWR will also fund a study to determine the feasibility of constructing whitewater recreation facilities in Oroville.
Community benefits: DWR is committing $50 million to be allocated to river-related projects to stimulate economic activity in the area and reconnect the community with the river.
Fish passage study: To mitigate for the loss of upstream spawning habitat, DWR and PG& E -- which operates dams upstream on the Feather and in other river basins -- will work together with agencies and other stakeholders to evaluate fish passage opportunities in the Feather and surrounding river basins and implement the most promising project.

"Healthy rivers are important community assets. This agreement will ensure that local citizens will enjoy and benefit from the Feather River for generations to come," Rothert said.

American Rivers looks forward to working with other parties to implement the agreement, and to address issues not completely resolved today, including issues raised by the county and certain flood management issues.

SCE files alternative 4(e) conditions for Borel project

John Seebach — Sun, 18 Dec 2005 23:00:00 -0600

Project: Borel : P-382

Southern California Edison (SCE) took advantage of the new Energy Policy Act rules to file alternatives to the 4(e) mandatory conditions that were filed by the U.S. Forest Service on 5/20/05.

SCE did not not request a trial-type hearing.

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FOR delivers over 18,000 signatures in support of protecting the American River in California

John Seebach — Sun, 11 Sep 2005 07:00:00 -0500

Project: Upper American River : P-2101

Although the agenda was packed for Sacramento Municiple Utility District's (SMUD) November 3rd board meeting, one of the items not up for discussion was how their ratepayers feel about the current relicensing of SMUD's 17-dam hydropower project on the South Fork American River.

In July, SMUD submitted a license application to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission that will govern operations of the Upper American River Project (UARP) for the next 40 years. Many stakeholders, including HRC member Friends of the River, felt SMUD's application did not go far enough to mitigate the impacts that generating power has caused to fish and wildlife in the area, as well as the ability of the public to recreate on public waters. The South Fork American River is one of the most popular whitewater boating runs in California, and arguably, the entire country.

In July, Friends of the River conducted a professional poll to gauge the interest of SMUD ratepayers for additional environmental protections as part of the new hydropower operating license. The result was overwhelmingly in favor of stronger environmental protections. To demostrate ratepayer support, Friends of the River delivered over 18,000 SMUD ratepayer signatures.

SMUD has agreed to work with agencies and public stakeholders to resolve differences between the submitted license application and the package of environmental mitigations the agencies and NGOs have agreed to. Meetings to find settlement are scheduled to begin next week.

SMUD Ratepayers Overwhelmingly Support More Water for Fish, Wildlife, and Recreation

John Seebach — Tue, 19 Jul 2005 07:00:00 -0500

Project: Upper American River : P-2101

The Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) owns a massive, 17-dam hydropower project on the Upper North Fork American River, in California's Sierra foothills. Environmentalists think the application SMUD submitted to FERC this week for a new, 50-year license does not go far enough in protection of aquatic, riparian, and recreational resources. Because SMUD is an investor-owned utility, a professional poll was conducted to query the thoughts of SMUD's ratepayers.

A copy of the poll summary can be found at the end of this article.

Environmental Improvements Could Be Part Of The Federal Relicensing Of SMUD Hydro Facilities

Contact: Steve Evans: 916-442-3155 x221

Sacramento, CA- Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) ratepayers overwhelmingly support providing more water for fish, wildlife, and recreation as part of the federal relicensing of SMUD's hydroelectric facilities on the South Fork American River, according to the findings of a professional poll conducted in May 2005.

The independent poll of 500 randomly selected SMUD ratepayers found that 95% of those polled believe that providing sufficient water from SMUD facilities for fish, wildlife, and plants is important. Of those polled, 83% would favor actual provisions in SMUD's operating license to provide more predictable flows in the river for fish, wildlife, and recreation.

The poll was commissioned by Friends of the River, a Sacramento-based river conservation organization, and conducted by the Evans/McDonough Company. The poll has a margin of error of + 4.5 points at the 95% confidence level.

SMUD's extensive system of dams, reservoirs, tunnels, and powerhouses on the upper South Fork of the American River and its tributaries is scheduled for the renewal of its federal power license in 2007. Federal and state fish, wildlife, and water quality agencies are currently considering the level of environmental mitigation and restoration that will be provided as operating conditions in the renewed license.

"Federal renewal of SMUD's license to operate hydroelectric facilities on the South Fork American River provides a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to help restore the river for fish, wildlife and recreation," said Friends of the River Senior Policy Advocate Ron Stork.

"SMUD has a reputation as a green utility and it's clear that SMUD ratepayers expect the utility to maintain this reputation by improving the environment in the relicensing process," he said.

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PG&E begins outreach for McCloud Project

John Seebach — Mon, 20 Jun 2005 07:00:00 -0500

Project: Mccloud-Pit : P-2106

PG&E has announced a set of formal outreach events to kick-off the relicensing for its 364 MW project on the McCloud River in northeastern California. The McCloud River is a legendary destination for anglers in search of the famed McCloud brown trout. Despite the large amount of private land surrounding the river to keep it relatively protection, PG&E's four dams near the river's headwaters divert up to 90% of the natural flow.

This relicensing will officially begin in July 2006 when PG& E submits to FERC its Pre-Application Document, containing all existing and relevant information about the project. To encourage stakeholders to send PG&E information that should be included in the PAD, the company is holding a series of outreach events. Stakeholders who wish to submit information to the PAD must download PG&E's questionnaire.

For more information contact:

Curtis Knight, California Trout

530-926-3755

PG&E put on notice to protect threatened spring-run Chinook salmon

John Seebach — Tue, 24 May 2005 07:00:00 -0500

PG&E Put on Notice to Protect Threatened Spring-Run Chinook Salmon; Conservation and Fishing Organizations Say Butte Creek Hydroelectric Operations Require a Second Look

San Francisco - Conservation and fishing groups have launched a legal effort to protect the threatened Central Valley spring-run chinook salmon population that spawns in Butte Creek, one of state's last, and most vibrant, populations of spring-run chinook.

The coalition filed a lawsuit in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to compel the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to consult with the National Marine Fisheries Service (also known as NOAA-Fisheries) regarding the effects of a small PG&E hydroelectric project on the protected salmon. The conservation lawsuit also puts PG&E on notice that any fish kills this summer caused by diverting Butte Creek will prompt legal action for illegal killing of a listed species.

FERC has authority over PG&E's license to generate electricity using Butte Creek waters. The National Marine Fisheries Service is the federal agency charged with maintaining healthy salmon runs, among other duties.

Spring-run chinook salmon are so named because they migrate as adults from the ocean to their birth streams during the spring when water flows are high, allowing them access to higher elevation pools where they wait out the summer to lay their eggs in the fall. Spring run can only survive in creeks and streams fed by cold snowmelt or cold springs in order to withstand high summer temperatures. This severely limits the remaining stream and creek habitat still suitable for spring run survival. Butte Creek has the biggest remaining wild spring-run chinook salmon population. The species is believed to have gone extinct in the southern portion of its range in the San Joaquin River system. Besides Butte Creek, they cling to survival in two other major Sacramento River tributaries.

Allen Harthorn of Friends of Butte Creek said, "Enormous efforts were made to bring the spring-run chinook back from the brink of extinction, including the removal of several dams on lower Butte Creek. It's time for FERC to consult formally with the NOAA-Fisheries to reassess the impacts of the DeSalba-Centerville hydroelectric project."

The spring-run chinook was listed as 'threatened' under the federal Endangered Species Act in 1999. The species suffered huge die-offs due to low flows and warm water temperatures in Butte Creek during 2002 and 2003. Pre-spawning fatalities jumped from 20 percent of the population in 2002 to as much as 90 percent in 2003.

During the spring, summer, and early fall months, adult spring-run Chinook occupy approximately ten miles of holding and spawning habitat in Butte Creek. Fish habitat conditions in this section of Butte Creek, including water flow and temperature, are controlled by operation of the DeSalba-Centerville hydroelectric project. PG&E operates the project under licensing authority of FERC. Because the species was listed as threatened in 1999, conservation and fishing groups believe the permitting agency, FERC, should consult with NMFS and issue new operation guidelines to PG&E that will protect the salmon.

A major obstacle to fish restoration is Centerville Head Dam, located 300 yards below De Sabla Forebay, where salmon are almost completely blocked from reaching the creek's upper watershed. PG& Ehas made no mitigations for these losses.

"While it is true that a 30-year license was issued to operate this small hydroelectric project, new science and a federal species listing indicates that changes may be needed to protect the spring-run chinook," said Trent Orr, an attorney from Earthjustice who is representing the coalition in court." The time has come for government biologists to take a hard look at this project and determine what can be done to avert more tragic fish kills to promote the recovery of the spring-run."

John Beuttler of the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance said, "Our once great spring-run salmon have been virtually eliminated from the Sacramento River and now survive primarily by hanging on in Butte Creek, with much smaller populations in two other tributaries. The little that is left of this highly prized salmon is of great importance to anglers and Native Americans as it represents a unique element of our natural heritage that can be turned back from extinction and fostered to a healthy, sustainable population in Central Valley rivers and streams."

"The spring-run chinook salmon of the Butte Creek represent one of the last intact runs of this magnificent fish," said Zeke Grader of the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations. "Federal agencies have got to reconsider any operating permits that could be modified to improve the health of this family of salmon 3/4 once the largest stock of Chinook salmon in the Central Valley."

Contact:

Trent Orr -Earthjustice - 510-550-6700 or 415-665-2185
Allen Harthorn - Friends of Butte Creek - 530-228-5342
John Beuttler - CSPA - 510-526-4049
Zeke Grader - PCFFA - 415-561-5080

Learn More:

Read the complaint filed in court.
See a map of Butte Creek and the PG&E facilities.

Kilarc-Cow Creek Hydroelectric Project Agreement Finalized

John Seebach — Wed, 23 Mar 2005 06:00:00 -0600

Project: Kilarc - Cow Creek : P-606

Wednesday, March 23 2:00 pm ET

Utility Supports Decommissioning of Hydroelectric Project in Shasta County

SACRAMENTO, Calif., March 23 /PRNewswire/-- Pacific Gas and Electric Company, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, California Department of Fish and Game, National Park Service, California State Water Resources Control Board, NOAA Fisheries, Trout Unlimited and Friends of the River today announced a historic agreement which could lead to the decommissioning of PG&E's Kilarc-Cow Creek hydroelectric project. Upon decommissioning, the agreement also designates all water rights associated with the project to be used for providing additional habitat for the federally listed spring run Chinook salmon and steelhead trout.

As part of the agreement, PG&E will not seek a new federal operating license for the Kilarc-Cow Creek project in Shasta County, east of Redding. The agreement also identifies the necessary actions for decommissioning, including long term treatment or removal of project facilities and the return of steam flows now diverted from South Cow and Old Cow Creek.

In early 2001, PG&E began working with stakeholders and resource agencies in an effort to renew the project's operating license. Through that process it became clear that new license provisions would result in the project no longer being an economic source of power for PG&E's electric customers.

Further discussions found common ground in the potential decommissioning of the project and transferring the water rights to a resource agency or other entity to support spring run Chinook salmon and steelhead trout. By approaching the opportunity collaboratively, the parties were able to develop a balanced agreement that achieves both of these goals. The signed agreement will next be forwarded to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for review and action.

The relicensing process dictated by the Federal Power Act, could allow an interested third party to acquire and continue to operate the project. To do this, the interested third party would need to prepare and file an application for a new license, receive FERC approval for the new license and purchase project facilities from PG& E. However, if no other party obtains a new operating license, FERC will direct PG&E to prepare a plan to decommission the project. Under the agreement, PG&E will continue to operate the project until the current license expires on March 27, 2007. and on annual licenses thereafter until the project is either acquired by another licensee or is decommissioned.

The resource agencies will continue to retain all authorities and mandates related to the project. Environmental measures that improve water quality and conditions for state and federally listed species of salmon and steelhead trout continue to remain a priority for both PG&E and the resource agencies who will continue to work together and with FERC.

The Kilarc-Cow Creek project totals 5 MW of electric capacity and is located in Shasta County on several upper branches of Cow Creek, a tributary to the Sacramento River. The project consists of two powerhouses and associated canals, penstocks and forebays. The Kilarc Powerhouse on Old Cow Creek was built in 1904 and has a capacity of 3.2 MW. The Cow Creek Powerhouse on South Cow Creek was built in 1907 and has a capacity of 1.8 MW.

For more information contact:

Chuck Bonham, Trout Unlimited

510-528-4164

Kelly Catlett, Friends of the River

916-442-3155 ext. 223

Klamath River Tribes Appeal To Governor: "Help Bring the Salmon Home"

John Seebach — Mon, 14 Mar 2005 06:00:00 -0600

Project: Klamath : P-2082

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: March 10, 2005

For more information:

Craig Tucker, Klamath Campaign Coordinator, Karuk Tribe, 916-207-8294
Bill Olson, Media Relations, Yurok Tribe, 503-880-0680
Mike Orcutt, Dirctor of Tribal Fisheries, Hoopa Valley Tribe, 530-625-4267 x13
Taylor David, Media Relations, Klamath Tribes of Oregon, 541-783-2219 x147

Klamath River Tribes Appeal To Governor: "Help Bring the Salmon Home"

March, Rally, and Film Mark 8th Annual International Day of Action for Rivers

Sacramento, CA - On Monday March 14, 2005, over 200 members of the Karuk, Yurok, Hoopa and Klamath Tribes will rally at the state capital to urge Governor Schwarzenegger to serve as "Conan the Riparian" and increase his efforts to restore Klamath River salmon. Fishermen, human rights advocates, and conservationists will be on hand to show their support of the Tribes' ongoing struggle to protect their native salmon.

The Klamath River was once the third most productive salmon river in America, returning as many as 1.2 million adult salmon annually. After nearly a century of dam building, diversions, and logging in the watershed, only 1/10 that number return today.

The Tribes, along with their allies in the commercial fishing, human rights, conservation, and ranching communities hope to focus the governor's attention on the Klamath River Dams, currently being relicensed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). The six dam complex is owned by PacifiCorp, a subsidiary of the multinational energy giant, Scottish Power (NYSE - SPI), based in Galsgow Scotland.
Last summer, the Tribes visited Scottish Power's shareholder meeting in Scotland to build support for dam removal and salmon restoration on the Klamath.

This time they bring their message to Sacramento. According to Leaf Hillman, vice-chairman of the Karuk Tribe, "We represent the three biggest Indian Tribes in California and the biggest in Oregon. We need the governor to take strong steps to restore the Klamath River to the benefit of not only the Tribes, but to all Californians and Oregonians."

For the tribes, salmon represent an integral part of their cultures. Each tribe has unique ceremonies based on the annual return of salmon. As the salmon runs dwindle ceremonies are lost. In addition, commercial fishermen and communities dependant on the fishing economy struggle to survive as well. Hillman argues that, "what's at risk here is the region's cultural heritage as well as the economy." According to a study by the Institute of Fisheries Resources, a restored Klamath Basin would be valued at $4.5 billion, providing a needed economic boost to struggling rural economies along the California and Oregon coasts.

Although several factors are blamed for the salmon's decline, the Tribes are currently focused on the dams, which, according to tribal leaders, could be removed as part of the FERC relicensing process. According to Jeff Mitchell of the Klamath River Inter-tribal Fish and Water Commission, " We know that dam removal won't solve all of our problems, but re-opening the 350 miles of habit upstream of the dams is a prerequisite to any other restoration programs." Dams create problems for salmon by blocking access to spawning grounds and degrading water quality. The current dam license expires in March 2006. Dam licenses typically last 50 years, therefore, river advocates view relicensing as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to restore rivers.

Last summer, Scottish Power executives promised tribal members that dam removal is "on the table" as a possible result of the relicensing. But a willingness on the part of the company will not likely be enough to make the tribes' goals a reality. Political support will be necessary as well.

So far, tribal leaders say that they are encouraged by the actions of the governor, but they hope their rally will prompt the governor to take bolder steps to bring the Klamath salmon home. The tribes say that state agencies can place strict conditions on any new license and that for removal to happen, state and federal funding will be needed.

March 14 marks the 8th annual International Day of Action for Rivers and this event is one of dozens being held around the world to bring awareness to the negative impacts that dams, diversions, and water pollution create for communities dependant on healthy rivers.

Groups marching in support of the Tribes include Friends of the River, International Rivers Network, and the Pacific Federation of Fishermen's Associations.

For information log on to: http://www.friendsoftheriver.org/ and http://www.irn.org/

Salmon and People's Health Intertwined

John Seebach — Mon, 31 Jan 2005 06:00:00 -0600

Project: Klamath : P-2082

Karuk Tribal members' health is declining because the Klamath River salmon that used to make up most of their diet are declining, says a Washington Post article [scanned copy available below] published yesterday. The salmon that once amply supported the Tribe are now an endangered species, blocked from their habitat by dams and diseased or killed by poor water quality on their seasonal runs. According to a University of California study, the lack of fresh salmon in the Tribe's diet - and replacement of other sources of nutrition - have harmed the health of Tribal members.

The Tribe and several Coalition members are working together to restore the salmon runs through the Klamath River relicensing process.

For Immediate Release: January 30, 2005

For more information:

Leaf Hillman , Karuk Tribe: 530-493-5305 x2040 cell 541-821-7730

Ron Reed, Traditional Dipnet Fisherman, Karuk Tribe 530-627-3116 ext 48, cell 530-598-7947

Dr. Kari Norgaard, Sociologist, UC Davis 530-754-5457

Salmon Declines Threaten Tribe' s Health and Culture

Washington Post story links dams and decline of salmon to poor health

Washington, D.C.- Today, the Washington Post reported on a study by University of California sociologist Dr. Kari Norgaard documenting how the denied access to traditional food sources has affected the physical health of members of the Karuk Tribe. The Karuk live along the Klamath River in Northern California. Tribes and conservationists point to this report as the first clear link between the decline of Klamath River salmon due to dams and water mismanagement, and human health.

“As salmon in the Klamath River have dwindled, the Karuks have been forced to adopt a Western-style high starch diet,” said Dr. Norgaard. “As the Tribe has been denied access to salmon, the incidence of diabetes and heart disease among tribal members has skyrocketed.” For the Karuk, salmon once represented a staple of their diet. Salmon is high in protein and Omega-3 fatty acids which have recently received much positive acclaim by the medical community.

According to Dr. Norgaard's study, as the fishery has declined, rates of heart disease and diabetes for Karuk tribal members have reached levels two to three times higher than the national average.

“The lack of good food is killing our people,” said Ron Reed, a Traditional Fisherman for the Tribe. “Not so long ago you could fill a freezer with salmon and have good food to eat for an entire year. But now the salmon have been decimated by the dams and the low river flows. Instead of having healthy food to eat – fish – we are relegated to eating commodity foods. That's our subsidy, unhealthy high starch foods. Because of our poverty, we' re forced to eat what the government gives us.”

Anthropological reports estimate that before European contact at the time of the gold rush (1850' s), the average Karuk consumed 450 pounds of salmon per person per year, or about 1.2 pounds per person per day. Today, salmon consumption is less than five pounds per person per year, nearly a 99% decrease. This year the Tribe caught fewer than 100 fish in their traditional dip net fishery, a record low. Yet dietary changes for the Tribe are not a matter of long-ago history. Until the 1960's the Karuk were catching hundreds of fish per day during fishing season.

“When I was a child I ate salmon twice a day” says Bill Tripp, age 31. “ Now we can hardly get any.”

According to Dr. Norgaard, “early anthropologists studying the Klamath Basin Tribes, identified the Karuk, Hupa and Yurok tribes as the wealthiest people in what is now known as California prior to contact with Europeans. Today they are amongst the poorest. This dramatic reversal is directly linked to the destruction of the fisheries resource base.”

The loss of the most abundant food source, Spring Chinook salmon, came after the construction of dams, the last of which was constructed in 1964. Spring run salmon historically spawned high in the upper basin, but since the construction of the dams their access to 350 miles of spawning habitat has been denied. Currently, Iron Gate and the four other dams on the Klamath owned by PacifiCorp are undergoing a relicensing process through the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

“ t is ironic that today doctors around the nation are urging their patients to eat more salmon and adopt the kind of diet that the Karuk enjoyed for thousands of years,” concluded Dr. Norgaard. “But because of their poverty and the decline of Klamath salmon, the Karuk themselves are being forced into the kind of unhealthy diet that people in other areas are trying to get away from.”

Tribal leaders such as Vice-chair Leaf Hillman see only one solution to this seemingly intractable problem. “We want to bring the salmon home to feed our people. To do that we must remove the Klamath River dams and restore our river.”

In the past PacifiCorp spokesmen have suggested that the dams should remain because they improve water quality. To Hillman this is a laughable assertion, “That' s like saying that coal-fired power plants are good for air quality, its simply not true.”

The fate of the dams, and the Karuk Tribe, may be decided as the Klamath dams are relicensed. The Dams are owned by PacifiCorp, a subsidiary of the multinational energy giant Scottish Power (NYSE- SPI), based in Edinburgh, Scotland. The relicensing deadline is March, 2006.

You can download the entire report from Friends of the River's website.

License Application Filed for Nation's Tallest Dam

John Seebach — Fri, 28 Jan 2005 06:00:00 -0600

Project: Oroville : P-2100

California' s Department of Water Resources officially filed its application for a new license for the Oroville project. From DWR' s January 26th press release:

Milestone Reached in Relicensing DWR's Oroville Facilities

SACRAMENTO, Calif.-- The Department of Water Resources (DWR) today filed an application for a new federal license to operate its Oroville Facilities -- the heart of the State Water Project.

The application -- signed by DWR Director Lester A. Snow -- was filed with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in Washington, D.C.

The Oroville Facilities include Oroville Dam (tallest in the nation at 770 feet), and Lake Oroville, the State Water Project's principal storage reservoir with a capacity of 3.5 million acre-feet.

From Lake Oroville, water flows through three hydroelectric powerplants before moving down the Feather and Sacramento rivers. The electricity generated is used to pump water through the State Water Project (SWP), which provides water to more than 23 million people, industry, and approximately 750,000 acres of irrigated farmland in Northern California, the San Francisco Bay Area, the Central Coast, San Joaquin Valley, and Southern California.

Extending more than 660 miles, the SWP is the largest state-owned, user-financed water system in the United States.

Under terms of their contracts with the State of California, the 29 public agencies (State Water Project Contractors) that receive supplies from the SWP pay approximately 94 percent of Project costs, including construction and operations and maintenance.

A multi-purpose project, the SWP provides flood control, recreation, salinity control and fishery and wildlife enhancement in addition to water supply and energy.

DWR's original, 50-year federal license to operate the Oroville Facilities expires on January 31, 2007. This month was the deadline for submitting the application for a new license.

Completion of the application marks a major milestone for DWR. Approximately 1,200 stakeholders helped shape the application package that was put together after more than five years of collaborative effort involving hundreds of meetings and some 165 technical reports.

In its new license application, DWR has proposed providing increased recreational, fishery, cultural and other benefits to the Oroville and Butte County community and other stakeholders. FERC will analyze the proposal over the next two years and is scheduled to issue a new license by January 31, 2007.

Contacts:

Department of Water Resources

Ted Thomas, 916-653-9712
Don Strickland, 916-653-9515