August 22, 2006
American Sportfishing Association Policy Alert
Restoration of the Klamath River Salmon Populations—Decommission
and remove the four most seaward dams on the Klamath River
How You Can Help
Please send a letter to Berkshire-Hathaway, owner of PacificCorp, as well
as your Members
of Congress asking them to support an equitable settlement
that removes the four dams and restores the salmon fishery. PacificCorp
is an electric company and owner of the dams.
ASA is actively participating in this effort. ASA garnered support from 11
other national conservation and sportfishing groups (see below) to sign onto
a letter to Warren Buffett, CEO, whose firm Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. owns
the controlling interest in MidAmerican, PacifiCorp's parent corporation,
asking for his support in decommissioning and removing the dams. The same
organizations sent letters to the editors of major West Coast and national
newspapers as well as to outdoor journalists and sportfishing trade publications.
West Coast angler organizations and other community-based organizations are
also involved in this effort.
The Issue
For the first time in fifty years, this nation has the opportunity to restore
the Klamath River salmon populations. By decommissioning and removing the
four most seaward dams on the Klamath River it will be possible to restore
the salmon populations which are now in a state of collapse. PacifiCorp,
which owns the four dams, must renew its 50-year Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission licenses for Iron Gate, Copco 1 and 2, and J.C. Boyle dams. This
presents an opportunity for our state and federal governments to reach a
settlement that will restore over 300 miles of this river system while at
the same time accommodating PacifiCorp and its ratepayers.
Although agricultural interests withdraw water further upstream of these
dams, these four dams are not used for agricultural withdrawals.
Our Position
The American Sportfishing Association (ASA) supports the efforts of the
California and Oregon state governments, the federal government and other
affected parties to reach an equitable settlement that will both restore
the river and protect the interests of PacifiCorp and its ratepayers.
ASA will continue to work with national and local groups to take advantage
of this historic opportunity. Along with ASA, the groups supporting the effort
are: the American Fly Fishing Trade Association, the American Fisheries Society,
the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, the Berkley Conservation Institute,
the Coastal Conservation Association, the Federation of Fly Fishers, the International
Game Fish Association, the Izaak Walton League, the National Marine Manufacturers
Association, the Northwest Sportfishing Industry Association and the Theodore
Roosevelt Conservation Partnership.
