Plan revived for dam removal on Klamath River in Oregon, California–With NO Replacement

Once again, Democrats have lied to us and we are paying the bill.  Less water, caused by a bond we were told was to give us MORE water.

https://ballotpedia.org › California_Proposition_1,_Water_Bond_(2014)

California Proposition 1, Water Bond (2014) – Ballotpedia

Measure design. The measure enacted the Water Quality, Supply, and Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2014.Proposition 1 was designed to: Authorize $7.12 billion in general obligation bonds for state water supply infrastructure projects, such as public water system improvements, surface and groundwater storage, drinking water protection, water recycling and advanced water treatment technology “

Yet, money from this bond is being used to demolish four dams on the Klamath Rvier—with NO replacement of water or power planned.  We literally are paying for our own economic murder.  The improvements are really the blasting of four dams.

Plan revived for dam removal on Klamath River in Oregon, California

By Jes Burns (OPB), 11/17/20    https://www.opb.org/article/2020/11/17/klamath-river-dam-removal-oregon-california/

After months of uncertainty, plans are once again moving forward to remove four dams on the Klamath River in Southern Oregon and Northern California.

The governors of both states announced a new deal Tuesday with dam owner PacifiCorp and the Karuk and Yurok tribes. It revives plans for the largest river restoration in U.S. history, which had been floundering since a problematic federal regulatory decision last summer.

Removal of the Klamath River dams – one in Oregon and three in California – have been lauded by tribes, the states and environmental advocates as a necessary step in restoring river health and declining salmon runs.

“We are taking an incredibly important step forward on the path toward restorative justice for the people of the Klamath Basin. And towards restoring the health of the river as well as everyone and everything that depends on it,” Oregon Gov. Kate Brown said.

Four years ago, parties came to an agreement to transfer the dams from the utility PacifiCorp to the non-profit Klamath River Renewal Corporation, which would take over responsibility and manage the dam removal. This ownership transfer was key for the utility because it would absolve them of future liability for the project.

But in July, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission refused to grant a clean transfer of ownership to the Agency. Instead, FERC issued a partial transfer that kept PacifiCorp as co-licensee, and thus calling into question whether the utility would agree to move forward.

To solve this problem, the states of Oregon and California have now agreed to take over ownership of the dams during the removal process in place of the utility. In January the groups will submit an application to FERC to officially remove PacifiCorp from the license.

 “Adding the states in the role assures that we have the sufficient backing to get the project done,” said Chuck Bonham, director of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

The Klamath River Renewal Corporation would remain as co-licensee with the states while managing and paying for the removal.

Oregon and California also agreed to share financial equal responsibility for any project overruns with PacifiCorp’s.

The new agreement puts the removal of the dams on track for 2023.

“This dam removal is more than just a concrete project coming down. It’s a new day and it’s a new era for California tribes. To me, this is who we are. To have a free-flowing river just as those who have come before us and here now for those generations to come,” Yurok Tribal Chairman Joseph James said.

In addition to ownership transfer approval, FERC will also need to grant a separate permit specific to dam removal. A representative of the Klamath River Renewal Corporation said that the application was filed Tuesday.