From the Washington Post comes news that “Klamath River Huggers” everywhere have been waiting for:
SEATTLE, Jan. 30 — In a decision that could trigger the largest dam-removal project in world history, the federal government said today that four hydroelectric dams on the troubled Klamath River must undergo costly modifications to allow passage for salmon.
Since modifying the aging dams would cost an estimated $300 million, removing them has suddenly become a much more plausible — and considerably cheaper — option for their owner, PacifiCorp, a company owned by Warren E. Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc.
Read the full story at: U.S. Orders Modification of Klamath River Dams – washingtonpost.com
Let the celebration begin!
Chris Raine fishes the Klamath.
Of course, the stars have yet to run their fiery courses to the proper places.
There will be the inevitable challenges and delays – and it’s possible (though not likely) that PacifiCorp could choose to create the mandated fishing passages without removing the dams – but this is still great news.
As someone who lives near the Klamath – yet who rarely fishes it for trout due to water quality issues – I’m popping the top on a beer right now. Right now.
Join me you fly fishing bastards. Right now (even if you’re at work).
UPDATE: I don’t hear a lot of drinking out there. Drink!
[tags]klamath, klamath river, fly fishing, dam, dam removal, pacificorp, salmon, environment[/tags]
Darn. I knew I should have checked the good blogs before going to the trouble to post this on mine.
Teh Wind Knot(Quote)
Hey, you beat me to the Little Juniata story (which I promptly stole).
Besides, I have a vested interest in the Klamath. I live 50 minutes away, and the prospect of a revived salmon/steelhead river in the backyard is an attractive one…
Tom Chandler(Quote)
BEER DRINKING COMMMENCES IN EUGENE!
Matt(Quote)
Harry salmon fishing is here again
but it’s going to be dark without electricity for 70,000 customers
maybe nuclear power?
Bob(Quote)
It’s night and I’m celebrating again!
And Bob, for a small fraction of the $200 million difference between ladders and removal, I could reduce energy use by more 70,000 customers.
95% of the light bulbs out there are incandescent, so the idea that we have to produce energy or go dark is power company thinking.
There’s a lot left to conserve, and it’s a lot easier to do than to bring back an extinct salmon run.
Tom Chandler(Quote)
EPIC,EPIC,EPIC!!!!!!!!!! OH YA, DID I MENTION THIS IS EPIC!!!!! can only imagine the potential of adding 300 miles of crucial habitat. hmmmmmm, how sweet it is! now all we need is a couple of ladders over two more major obstacles on the lower sac and we could be really heading in the right direction. Kudos to all who put there heart and energy towards this issue!
isaac(Quote)
Some people have worked hard to destroy this great country altering rivers for the dollars. When are we going to learn. Greed and nature can not live togather in harmony. We need to stop the greed and think about think about the country as a whole.
We need to stop the few geedy people to lead this country. The people need to take back this country. And if we do not soon we will lose.
John liming(Quote)