Newsletter
Talking Waters
Siskiyou County Water Users Association
”Save the Dams Save the Salmon”
Officers: President: Richard Marshall richard@marshall-ranch.com 530-468-4204 ; Treasurer/Secretary Kathy Bergeron bergeron@inreach.com 530-459-5266 Board Members: Rex Cozzalio, Susan Miller, Jerry Bacigalupi, Sam Jackson, Jenn Dickenson, Jeff Deutscher, Tony Intisio, Charlie Blackburn, Chrissie Reynolds, Leo Bergeron, Grant Knoll, Susan Wallace, Heath Kauffman Consultant: Bob Rice, Emeritus Members: Mark Baird:
The Directors serve without remuneration
SPRING EDITION MAY 2022
The EIR EIS by FERC has closed the comment period and they are now reviewing the comments received. Needless to say that the document prepared by staff was essentially skewed to give the results they wanted. We have seen this time and again on this project where the agencies are not considering the public input on this proposed project. No one receives an answer to comments made and within the document if the comments are referenced at all, the stock answer is that in the immediate term there will be problems but they will resolve themselves in the long run. The long run being 50 years in the future. Not much comfort for those of us who have already spent 15 years or more studying the facts and trying to get the facts heard. The problem is that the FERC and those who want to destroy the hydroelectric facilities aren’t interested in the facts of the case. Dr. Paul Houser, who was the science quality advisor for the DOI became a “whistleblower” regarding the unscientific method and untruths being presented as facts. He found out just how rabid the NGOs and government “science” advisors can be when their pet project is on the line.
Issues such as did the Salmon go up to the Klamath Lake and will they in the future. The facts indicate that the Salmon will not make the journey up to the lake. This is probably one of the most important facts of all because the sole case for removing the dams is based on increased Salmon range leading to a significant increase in Salmon. Much of the support for this was created by a study by John Hamilton a local employee of the California Fish and Wildlife agency. He theorized based on a collection of comments from the past in magazines and newspapers that the Salmon regularly traveled upstream to the Upper Klamath Lake area. This report was done in a style much as you would find in a high school book report but it became the pivot point in a 2006 case pressed by the then California Fish and Game department to support the theory that PacifiCorp needed to put fish ladders in so that the Salmon could bypass the dams. The judge at the time was swayed by the argument and ordered PacifiCorp to put in fish ladders or remove the dams. He wasn’t interested in the evidence presented by PacifiCorp that there was no habitat upstream from Copco I. Prior to Copco the Klamathon racks maintained by the U.S. Bureau of Fisheries for collecting eggs stretched across the river preventing Salmon from going upstream beyond the Hornbrook area. An investigation at the time, concluded that the dams at Copco were not the reason for Salmon not going further upstream.
SCWUA and Lava Dikes
The Water Users organization had read in Boyles study about the existence of lava dikes which had existed for tens of thousands of years and prevented the anadromous Salmon from preceding upstream thereby serving also to separate the sucker fish and the Red Band Salmon from intermixing with the Salmon. SCWUA raised approximately 23,000 dollars in an effort to finance the hiring of a sonar surveying company from Oregon to ascertain the existence of the natural dams. We discovered as a result of this effort the location of two of the largest of the lava dikes located in Iron Gate reservoir and located just East of Copco I dam. The results of the sonar survey clearly show the plunge pools resulting from the dikes now being underwater. Interestingly the largest example of the lava dikes is located right at the location of the Copco I facility. As reported by J.C. Boyle this lava dike was approximately 135 feet high. Over thousands of years the Klamath eroded through the dikes but still remaining was a portion which served to become the support and anchor for the Copco I dam. In addition, we know from the record that there existed at one time seven dikes in total. One aspect of the KRRC final plan for removal of the hydro facilities includes a statement to do “in stream blasting” to provide a “free of impediments passage” for the Salmon. This fact alone should result in FERC rejecting the proposal to remove the dams because the stated objective was to remove the dams so the Salmon could travel upstream not to create a passageway that never existed previously. Yet this is exactly what KRRC intends to do. The Klamath is a designated “wild and scenic” river which would seem to presume that blasting a new river channel to provide fish passage that didn’t exist naturally would be rejected out of hand. Yet that is evidently going to be permitted by the State of California and the FERC. The average person would never be able to do this kind of damage to the Klamath.
Ancient Beswick Forest and Cultural Area
This is another original investigation which SCWUA undertook with a crew of approximately six people and working directly with some very talented people who are residents of Copco Lake. Over a period of six-months we photographed and cataloged some 26 unique biomes which were specific as to habitat and unique species of birds, reptiles, and animals associated with the unique flora and fauna of the lake side setting provided by both the Iron Gate and Copco reservoirs. When considering the ancient history of the lava dikes and the lakes which formed behind them it was clear that this was indeed a special area which needed to be preserved.
The reservoirs besides providing a look at the ancient landscape of the area also served to protect the Native American cultural treasures endemic to their cultural activities including artifacts villages and grave sites. Removal of the reservoirs will expose these unique areas to pilferage and will drive away those animals, reptiles and birds who are dependent on the existence of the reservoirs and the biomes thereby created. The removal of the dam and destruction of the reservoirs will destroy the unparalleled beauty and serenity of the area.
This area deserves to become a protected area and identified as such by the Historic Preservation processes. We will be submitting the required information through the Historical Preservation Process.
Siskiyou County Reserve Water Rights
In the late 50’s and early 60’s and as a proximate issue to the Klamath Compact Siskiyou County was granted approximately 120,000 Ac Ft of water from the Klamath of which 60,000 Ac Ft was slated for Shasta Valley. These rights were at the request of the then Board of Supervisors put on hold at no cost to the county. Siskiyou County was classified as a County of Origin and thus was accorded special rights in time for the water. It was to be taken from the reservoir behind Iron Gate dam and delivered to a spot to be determined at Ager Beswick. These rights if exercised and they definitely should be, offers an opportunity for all parties to resolve many of the issues concerning water and fish in both Shasta and Scott Valley. Both agriculture and fish can benefit. Without exercising these rights the County and the City of Yreka are subject to the uncertainty of Nature.
Video Series
Recently SCWUA has begun filming an 8-part series regarding information we have presented previously some of it over many years as an effort to inject truth into the discussion concerning dam removal. The adherents to dam removal have engaged in misinformation and disinformation regarding the supposed benefits of removing the Klamath hydroelectric facilities. The main fallacy being the insistence that Salmon would prosper without the dams. This is simply untrue as any logical study of the facts will show. NOAA itself has consistently referenced the ocean conditions, predators, and international fishing as reasons for reduction of returning Salmon. In addition, there have been two studies - the main one by Dr. Nathan Mantua which points to the issue of the Pacific Current as having major responsibility for lack of Salmon. Early historic records and comments such as Peter Skene Ogden and others indicate that in the 1850’s the Klamath was a problematic river with algae problems and low water flow back then long before the dams were built. Comments such as the river was so polluted that the horses wouldn’t drink the water or statement by a Shasta Indian guide that the Salmon didn’t pass by Wards Canyon. The dam reservoirs have actually served to regulate the flow of the River providing a more consistent habitat for Salmon and allowing a regular flushing of the river which is actually under court order to BOR and served to act as a sink for settlement of material in the water thereby resulting in cleaner and cooler water in the summer. The water also used to support the fish hatchery will also suffer without the dams in place to allow cooler water in the depths to be used.
These issues as well as the examination of the seven interconnected reaches of the river and the BOR “teacup” linear flow process which will be terminated by removal of the hydro facilities and will lead to a return of the Klamath to a problematic process characterized by flood and drought will also be covered.
One only has to take a look at the Salmon River, a major tributary to the Klamath which has no dams on it yet is suffering from lack of Salmon, to gauge the effect of dam removal. The Salmon River and the Klamath both suffered major damage to the hydrology by the floods of 1964 which modified the cross sections of these Rivers.
Special New Members
Just recently SCWUA has had the opportunity to welcome two new groups who are also threated by the proposed removal process. These new groups include the R-Ranch with some 3,000 members and KRCE with approximately 2,500 members. Also, establishing a close relationship with Copco Lake Community gives an important boost to the effort to retain the Klamath facilities and push back against PacifiCorp and KRRC.
PLEASE CONSIDER JOINING, Renewing, AND OR DONATING TO OUR JOINT EFFORT IN THIS MATTER
We ae not set up for electronic payment. Please send your check to the address on the footer.
We thank you for your support. SISKIYOU COUNTY WATER USERS BOARD
Suggested dues per fiscal year
Associate Members: $25.00 Gold Circle $1,000.00
Property Owner: $50.00
Ranch Member (99AC or Less): $100.00
Ranch Member (100AC or more): $300.00
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