Klamath communities demand dam removal
Klamath River residents, 27.09.2005 17:32
Monday at the Lloyd Tower Klamath river residents and supporters joined Native people of the Klamath River to ask Pacific Power to remove thier fish killing dams. The Klamath dams are currently in a process that occurs every 50 years, in dam removal is possible. However after years of negotiations Pacific Power shocked river communities by ignoring fish passage and down river communities in their plans. Now community members are taking their issues straight to the doorsteps of Pacific Power.
Video:
"Un-Dam The Klamath Video"
http://rogueimc.org/en/2005/09/5362.shtml
Features found on Portland Indymedia:
"Bring The Salmon Home - Un-Dam the Klamath!"
http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2005/09/325647.shtml
"Klamath community demands for Portland based Pacific Power to remove dams"
http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2005/09/325776.shtml
Community members of the Klamath River and supporters staged a protest today in front of the Headquarters of Pacific Power, to demand that the dams be removed and that the Klamath River be allowed to flow freely. There was good educational outreach, eloquent speakers, and impassioned pleas to passers-by and PacifiCorp (same as Pacific Power) employees to take their message inside the walls to their employers and fellow employees about the seriousness of the situation on the Klamath. Not only are the Klamath tribes along the entire stretch of river being severely impacted, but the river ecosystem is suffering too, evidenced by the fish die-offs and the toxic algae growth in the river. There was a pile of this toxic algae and dead fish in the center of the protesters, bringing the smell of the polluted reservoirs to the area.
Residents and tribal members told of the lowest Chinook (or King) Salmon runs in recorded history and the impacts to thier way of life due to continuing fish kills in the Klamath. They also demanded for Pacific Power to Bring the Salmon home to the upper Klamath watershed, which has not seen Salmon in almost a century.
With the publicity being brought to bear around this issue, it is important that we in Portland who call ourselves friends of the "salmon nation" or who claim to want to preserve salmon habitat, get involved in the struggle these people are waging for their very survival. The Oregon govenor has shown little compassion on this issue and has not given his support for dam removal.
This fight is far from over. 50 years is too long to wait for the return of the salmon and steelhead runs. It may already be too late for the spring Chinook which historically had up to a million returning adults per year, many of which used the upper basin above the dams. Currently their are less then 200 in the whole river.
e-mail:: salmonaction@cascadiarising.org
Homepage:: http://klamathforestalliance.org
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Oh, where oh where are the drama queens? 28.09.2005 - 09:34 Don't you trolls have anything snide to say about native sovereignty? Curious? Hotfeet? None of the above? Surely Moon Muffin has something outlandish to throw out here. What, are they not paying you enough to sit around and gum up the comments section of the Indymedia boards? Chane Sau, you're so witty and staunch in your "Old West" demeanor, surely you have some bone to pick. Do bring back the opera, complete with the diverse cast of personalities that mesh so well and lead to infinite possibilities of impromptu ranting and trash talking... Life will never be the same without you, do come back!!! Fiddler's Friend> First Let Me Respond to Your Tone 03.10.2005 - 16:55 and assumptions by saying fuck you, you self obsorbed ranting twit. Now to your question(s) if that is really what they were intended to be. I have extremely strong opinions about the Sovereignty of our First Nations. I believe very strongly in it. My reasons are none of your business. Maybe I am Hoopa, or Yurok, or Kurok, or Modoc, or Coquille. It is very telling that you would assume (state) otherwise. I also have very strong opinion about how nations should work togather for a common good. I am not nor do I claim to be knowledgable in regards to issues surounding the Klamath Hydro projects. I would expect that advances in technology could both improve (allow) fish passage and improve power output. I do believe in creating and improving fish habitat. It is telling that you would assume (state) otherwise. I do have concerns about deposited silts behind impoundments doing more harm when released, to down stream habitat than good created in additional upstream habitat. It wouldn't surprise me if your only considered option was the complete removal of the projects. I guess that is very telling of me but it is in keeping with the no compromise/no prisoner mindset. I had been away for a few days but it is somehow reasuring to see that somethings will never change. You are one, unbending, rigid, inflexable, unevolving, brittle.....fragile. Curious> Oh here I am..... 04.10.2005 - 16:07 I would like to just say thank you for the invite to this subject....Please read the other posting to this subject regarding the removal of the dams.. AAA pretty much has my view summed up in a nutshell, gee it almost sounds like me too, go figure. Just for a clarification, I support the sovereign nations and the rights they have on that property, I have some disagreement when those rights are pushed off of that property to surrounding areas, since this is generally a one way street, but that is another discussion for another time. While I do have to work for a living, I promise to make every effort to contribute to this site when ever possible, especially with such a warm and friendly invite such as recieved above. XXOO Chane Sau > Further Clarification 04.10.2005 - 16:14 By the way Fidler, I do this purely out of the goodness of my heart, free of charge, because I know that those like you really want to learn but haven't got the right connections, you could say I here to help you...This is made possible because I actually work for my money and contribute to the good of society, besides someone has to pay for the Oregon Trail cards being used.. Chane Sau> |