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A4 U.S. NEWS
Wednesday 18 november 2020

APNewsBreak: Deal revives plan for largest U.S. dam demolition

By GILLIAN FLACCUS erty values and the loss of from that loss.
Associated Press a water source for fighting Coho salmon from the
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — An wildfires. Klamath River are listed as
agreement announced "It is bleak, but I want to threatened under federal
Tuesday paves the way for have hope that with dam and California law, and
the largest dam demoli- removal and with all the their population in the river
tion in U.S. history, a project prayers that we've been has fallen anywhere from
that promises to reopen sending up all these years, 52% to 95%. Spring chinook
hundreds of miles of wa- salmon could come back. salmon, once the Klam-
terway along the Oregon- If we just give them a ath Basin's largest run, has
California border to salmon chance, they will," said dwindled by 98%.
that are critical to tribes but Chook Chook Hillman, a Fall chinook, the last to per-
have dwindled to almost Karuk tribal member who's sist in any significant num-
nothing in recent years. been fighting for the dam bers, have been so mea-
If it goes forward, the deal removal for years. "If you ger in the past few years
would revive plans to re- provide a good place In this March 3, 2020, file photo, excess water spills over the top that the Yurok canceled
move four massive hydro- for salmon, they'll always of a dam on the Lower Klamath River known as Copco 1 near fishing for the first time in
electric dams on the lower come home." Hornbrook, Calif. the tribe's memory. In 2017,
Klamath River, emptying gi- A half-dozen tribes spread Associated Press they bought fish at a gro-
ant reservoirs and reopen- across Oregon and Cali- cery store for their annual
ing potential fish habitat fornia, fishing groups and California and the utility of an albatross than a prof- salmon festival.
that's been blocked for environmentalists had PacifiCorp, which operates it-generator, while address- "At its heart, dam removal
more than a century. The hoped to see demolition the hydroelectric dams ing regulators' concerns. is about healing and resto-
massive project would be work begin as soon as and is owned by billionaire Oregon, California and the ration for the river, for the
at the vanguard of a trend 2022. But in July, U.S. regu- Warren Buffett's company nonprofit would jointly take salmon, and for our peo-
toward dam demolitions lators stalled those plans Berkshire Hathaway, will over the hydroelectric li- ple," Yurok Tribe chairman
in the U.S. as the structures when they questioned each provide one-third of cense from PacifiCorp until Joseph James said. "We
age and become less ec- whether the nonprofit en- the additional funds. the dams are decommis- have never wavered from
onomically viable amid tity formed to oversee the Parties to the new agree- sioned, while the nonprofit this obligation, and we are
growing environmental project could adequately ment shared details with will oversee the work. pleased to see dam re-
concerns about the health respond if there were cost The Associated Press in Buffett called the reworked moval come closer to reali-
of native fish. overruns or accidents. The documents and interviews deal a solution to a "very ty through this agreement."
Previous efforts to address new plan makes Oregon ahead of a news confer- complex challenge." PacifiCorp has been op-
problems in the Klamath Ba- and California equal part- ence scheduled Tuesday. "I recognize the impor- erating the dams under
sin have fallen apart amid ners in the demolition with The Federal Energy Regula- tance of Klamath dam an extension of its expired
years of legal sparring that the nonprofit entity, called tory Commission must ap- removal and river resto- hydroelectric license for
generated distrust among the Klamath River Renew- prove the deal. If accept- ration for tribal people in years. The license was
tribes, fishing groups, farm- al Corporation, and adds ed, it would allow Paci- the Klamath Basin," Buffett originally granted before
ers and environmentalists. $45 million to the project's fiCorp and Berkshire Ha- said in a statement. "We modern environmental
Opponents of dam remov- $450 million budget to ease thaway to walk away from appreciate and respect laws and renewing it would
al worry about their prop- those concerns. Oregon, aging dams that are more our tribal partners for their mean costly renovations to
collaboration in forging an install fish ladders. The utility
Theater at renowned Jacob’s Pillow dance agreement that delivers an has said energy generat-

center burns down exceptional outcome for ed by the dams no longer
the river, as well as future makes up a significant part
generations." of its portfolio.
working, so firefighters had Removed would be the In the original deal, Paci-
to shuttle water in and get four southernmost dams in fiCorp was to transfer its
water from a nearby pond, a string of six constructed license and contribute
he said. About 30 firefight- in southern Oregon and far $200 million to bow out of
ers from several area fire Northern California begin- the removal project and
departments responded. ning in 1918. avoid further costs and li-
No other buildings on the They were built solely for ability. An additional $250
Jacob's Pillow 220-acres power generation. They are million comes from a voter-
grounds were affected. not used for irrigation, not approved California water
The state Fire Marshal's of- managed for flood control bond.
fice is investigating. The and have no "fish ladders," U.S. regulators, however,
cause has not been deter- or concrete chutes that fish agreed only on the condi-
mined. "While we have lost can pass through. tion that PacifiCorp remain
The Doris Duke Theatre at Jacob's Pillow in Becket, Mass., burned some precious, irreplace- They have blocked hun- a co-licensee along with
in an early morning fire, Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2020. able items, those experi- dreds of miles of potential the Klamath River Renewal
Associated Press ences and memories will fish habitat and spawning Corporation — a nonstarter
BECKET, Mass. (AP) — A fire The Berkshire Eagle. last forever," Pamela Tatge, grounds, and fish popula- for the utility.
at the renowned Jacob's Firefighters arrived to find Jacob's Pillow's artistic and tions have dropped pre- Residents have been
Pillow dance center in flames on the right side of executive director said in a cipitously in recent years. caught in the middle. As
Massachusetts destroyed a the building. A short time statement. "We are heart- Salmon are at the heart of tribes watched salmon
theater building early Tues- later the 216-seat theater broken and we are relieved the culture, beliefs and diet dwindle, some homeown-
day, but no one was hurt. that dates to 1990 went up that no one was hurt." of a half-dozen regional ers around a huge reservoir
The fire at the Doris Duke in flames with sound that She said the organization tribes, including the Yurok created by Copco Dam,
Theatre was reported at Mikaniewicz described as will rebuild. and Karuk — both parties one of those slated for re-
about 7 a.m., Becket Fire like a tornado. A hydrant There is another, larger the- to the agreement — and moval, have sued to stop
Chief Paul Mikaniewicz told on the property wasn't ater on the grounds.q they have suffered deeply the demolition. q