Klamath River eNews - March 25, 2008
Klamath River Keeper, 25.03.2008 16:51
Klamath River News - March 25, 2008
* RIVERKEEPER COURT WIN FORCES EPA TO LIST PACIFICORP'S KLAMATH DAMS'
POLLUTION
* KLAMATH RIVER DAMS' REMOVAL HINGES ON OWNER
* WHAT WILL IT TAKE TO SAVE THE SALMON?
* SACRAMENTO CHINOOK DISASTER GRABS NATIONAL PRESS, THREATENS COASTAL
AND INLAND COMMUNITIES
Action Alerts
* SISKIYOU COUNTY SUPERVISORS CONSIDER DAM REMOVAL - 3/25 TONIGHT in
YREKA!
* LET'S GET THE FACTS STRAIGHT ON KLAMATH DAMS - WRITE A LETTER TO THE
EDITOR
Announcements
* SPECIAL EVENT! See the new documentary RIVER OF RENEWAL: CONFLICT ON
THE KLAMATH in Ashland 3/26 and Mt. Shasta 3/28
* UN-DAM THE KLAMATH Oregon Coast Tour - April 15-18th, 2008
_____________________________________________________
NEWS:
KLAMATH DAM REMOVAL ADVOCATES WIN MAJOR VICTORY IN DAMS TOXICS CASE
Klamath Riverkeeper Press Release - 3/20/08
http://www.klamathriver.org/Press-Release-032008
Klamath Riverkeeper won a major concession today from the Environmental
Protection Agency related to the toxic algae created by PacifiCorp's
reservoirs on the Klamath River. In the wake of litigation filed by
Klamath Riverkeeper, the agency reversed a prior decision and designated
the Klamath River as impaired by the toxic algae. The reservoirs created
by PacifiCorp's dams are the origin of the blooms of the toxic blue
green algae Microcystis aeruginosa, a liver toxin and known tumor
promoter. "Given the fact that the concentration of algal toxin exceeds
international safety standards by as much as 4,000 fold, we could not believe
that the EPA failed to act. We hope today's announcement signals a
commitment by the agency to stop PacifiCorp's toxic pollution of the
Klamath River and will ultimately drive another nail in the coffin for
PacifiCorp's dams," said Regina Chichizola, the Klamath Riverkeeper.
NEW HURDLE FOR KLAMATH DAMS
Los Angeles Times - 3/21/08
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-klamath22mar22,1,5022428.story
EPA FINDS KLAMATH RIVER IMPAIRED BY TOXIC ALGAE
Oregonian - 3/21/08
http://www.oregonlive.com/newsflash/regional/index.ssf?/base/news-23/120611934927880.xml&storylist=orlocal
KLAMATH RIVER DAMS' REMOVAL HINGES ON OWNER
National Public Radio - 3/5/08
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=87928806
The endless wrangling over the rights to water from California's
second-largest river may finally be over. From farmers to fishermen, from
the feds to the Yurok nation, all sides spent the past two years
hammering out a deal that hinges on the destruction of four hydroelectric dams
along the Klamath River. If those four dams come down, it would be the
largest dam removal in U.S. history.
WHAT WILL IT TAKE TO SAVE THE SALMON?
San Francisco Chronicle - 3/23/08
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/03/23/MNP3VG03D.DTL
... there's no reason for state leaders to dodge their duties. Logging
can't be allowed to destroy fish habitat. Fish populations could
revive if dams on the Klamath river came down and other streams were
restored. Water diversions must be calculated for minimal damage to fish. A
changing ocean may be beyond control, but the fish need help elsewhere
in their journey to the sea. That should be California's duty in saving
the salmon.
LOOMING SALMON CLOSURES WILL HURT COASTAL AND INLAND COMMUNITIES
Bay Area Independent Media - 3/22/08
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2008/03/22/18488003.php
Coastal communities will be devastated by the looming closure of
commercial and recreational ocean salmon fishing seasons off the California
and Oregon coast. The cities of Sacramento, Knights Landing, Colusa,
Corning, Red Bluff and Redding and other Central Valley communities will
also also face losses of revenue generated by recreational salmon
fishing. Although the Bush and Schwarzenegger administrations have tried to
avoid any responsibility for this fishery collapse, it becomes clearer
every day that federal and state mismanagement of the Sacramento-San
Joaquin Delta and the Central Valley rivers have played a huge role in the
collapse.
COMMERCE DEPT TO CONSIDER WEST COAST SALMON DISASTER
San Diego Union-Tribune - 3/20/08
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/state/20080320-1836-wst-salmondisaster.html
FUNERAL FOR CHINOOK SALMON
Idaho Mountain Press - 3/21/08
http://www.mtexpress.com/index2.php?ID=2005119921
_____________________________________________________
ACTION ALERTS:
* SISKIYOU COUNTY SUPERVISORS CONSIDER DAM REMOVAL - 3/25 TONIGHT at
6:00 pm in YREKA!
The Siskiyou County Supervisors will meet at 6:00 pm tonight for a
hearing on dam removal. Come on out and let folks know, dam removal is the
cheapest and most effective way to restore the Klamath!
6:00 pm Best Western Miner's Inn Convention Center, 122 East Miner
Street, Yreka (Corner of Miner and Main)
* LET'S GET THE FACTS STRAIGHT ON KLAMATH DAMS - WRITE A LETTER TO THE
EDITOR
Your help is needed more than ever to battle PacifiCorp's
misinformation campaign, and to give the public the real facts on Klamath dam
removal. Here's three important points to make this week:
1. Inform Redding Record-Searchlight readers that dam removal does not
mean hell or high water on the Klamath! A recent letter in this paper
perpetuates the myth that Klamath dam removal will increase the risk of
dangerous flooding. The misinformed letter:
http://www.redding.com/news/2008/mar/17/three-strikes-against-removing-klamath-dams/.
In fact, the dams are not operated for flood control, and the Klamath's
largest recent flood occurred after the dams were built!
2. NPR quoted a PacifiCorp spokesman last week who said the Klamath
dams are good for the environment because they break up toxic algae. In
fact, the dams breed toxic algae, in quantities that spill downriver
and caused a shutdown of over 100 miles of the Klamath to human contact
last fall. Tell your local and regional newspapers the truth about
toxic algae.
3. Many media sources are confused about the Restoration Agreement, and
believe the dams are now coming down. In fact dam removal is not a
done deal! PacifiCorp is still refusing to join the basinwide consensus
for Klamath River restoration. Help us keep the pressure on PacifiCorp
and remind newspapers that this corporation needs to get on board with
restoring the Klamath.
Now it's your turn to get out the facts on the Klamath dams. Contact
information for Oregon and California newspapers, as well as sample
letters and talking points on toxic algae, flooding, PacifiCorp, and the
Klamath Restoration Agreement, can be found at
http://www.klamathriver.org/.
_____________________________________________________
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
* SPECIAL EVENT! SEE THE NEW FILM "RIVER OF RENEWAL: CONFLICT IN THE
KLAMATH in Ashland 3/26 and Mt. Shasta 3/28
Join Klamath Riverkeeper and writer Stephen Most for a special
work-in-progress screening of a new documentary film about the water and
wildlife crisis in the Klamath Basin. The film is based on Stephen Most's
book River of Renewal: Myth and History of the Klamath Basin. Most will be
on hand to sign autographed copies of the book, and to answer
questions and take comments on the film. Admission will be $5-$10 sliding scale
with proceeds and book sales benefiting Klamath Riverkeeper, no one
turned away for lack of funds.
March 26th, 7-9 pm
Nuwandart Gallery
258 "A" St, Ashland
March 28th, 7-9 pm
The Stage Door
414 Mount Shasta Blvd, Mt. Shasta
* Join Stephen Most and director Steve Michelsen for dinner at 6 pm at
the Stage Door cafe
More on the book at
http://www.washington.edu/uwpress/search/books/MOSRIV.html and
http://www.orionmagazine.org/index.php/articles/review/190/.
Stephen Most is a playwright and documentary storyteller. He has
contributed to numerous documentary films, including Emmy Award winners
Wonders of Nature and Promises and the Academy Award-nominated Berkeley in
the Sixties. His plays Medicine Show, Watershed, and A Free Country
dramatize events in Pacific Northwest history.
A special thanks to the BLUE MOON BED & BREAKFAST for helping to
sponsor the Ashland event!
* UN-DAM THE KLAMATH FILM NIGHTS ON THE OREGON COAST! April 15th-18th
Please join Klamath Riverkeeper for a showing of "Solving the Klamath
Crisis: Keeping Fish and Farms Alive," an inspiring and informative
documentary on the effort to un-dam the Klamath River, and return salmon to
300+ miles of historic spawning habitat blocked for the last 90 years.
All films shown at 7:00 pm, contact Malena at klamathriver.org for
more info.
April 15 - The Liberty Theatre in ASTORIA
April 16 - The Hatfield Marine Science Center Auditorium in NEWPORT
April 17 - The Egyptian Theatre in COOS BAY
April 18 - The Chetco Community Public Library in BROOKINGS
We are looking for folks with connections in coastal communities to
help us get the word out about these events. Please let us know if you
have suggestions for email lists or individuals where we can send
announcements.