At long last, the needed removal of four dams along the Klamath River including the Iron Gate, Copco 1 and 2 and John C. Boyle could be removed in the next decade, allowing fish passage through the otherwise blocked river. This access could dramatically improve the health of the mighty Klamath, and allow river communities to rebound as well. The Klamath has been an item of international debate over the last several years, and has resulted in the signing of the controversial
In preparation for a U.S. Secretarial finding on whether dam removal is in the best interests of the American public and the citizens of California, the Department of Interior and California Department of Fish and Game are coming to the Arcata Community Center this Wednesday, July 14 at 6 p.m. and to Orleans on Thursday to gather public input on the environmental impacts of the Klamath dams.
Your attendance and testimony will be incorporated into an environmental analysis on the dams under the National Environmental Policy Act and the California Environmental Quality Act. Please come speak up about the negative impacts of a No Action Alternative (leaving the dams in) and the positive impacts of a Four Dam Removal Alternative. Also, feel free to suggest that they analyze an alternative that would remove four dams in 2013. The scoping session will provide an opportunity for people to provide the lead agency with issues that should be addressed in the environmental document. Any information, studies or documentation you can provide about the benefits of dam removal and impacts of non removal, will be very helpful and will be incorporated into the environmental analysis of the project. It is essential that people come out and support the Klamath River by getting involved in the public process that is essential for informed people to check and balance.