[env-trinity] Klamath River Tribes Appeal To Governor: Help Bring the Salmon Home

[Daniel Bacher]

For Immediate Release: March 10, 2005

 
For more information:

Craig Tucker, Klamath Campaign Coordinator, Karuk Tribe, 916-207-8294

Bill Olson, Media Relations, Yurok Tribe, 503-880-0680

Mike Orcutt, Director of Tribal Fisheries, Hoopa Valley Tribe, 530-625-4267 
x13

Taylor David, Media Relations, Klamath Tribes of Oregon, 541-783-2219 x147

 

Klamath River Tribes Appeal To Governor: “Help Bring the Salmon Home”

March, Rally, and Film Mark 8th Annual International Day of Action for 
Rivers

 
Sacramento, CA – On Monday March 14, 2005, over 200 members of the Karuk, 
Yurok, Hoopa and Klamath Tribes will rally at the state capital to urge 
Governor Schwarzenegger to serve as “Conan the Riparian” and increase his 
efforts to restore Klamath River salmon. Fishermen, human rights advocates, 
and conservationists will be on hand to show their support of the Tribes’ 
ongoing struggle to protect their native salmon. 

The Klamath River was once the third most productive salmon river in 
America, returning as many as 1.2 million adult salmon annually. After 
nearly a century of dam building, diversions, and logging in the watershed, 
only 1/10 that number return today.

The Tribes, along with their allies in the commercial fishing, human rights, 
conservation, and ranching communities hope to focus the governor’s 
attention on the Klamath River Dams, currently being relicensed by the 
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). The six dam complex is owned by 
PacifiCorp, a subsidiary of the multinational energy giant, Scottish Power 
(NYSE – SPI), based in Galsgow Scotland.

Last summer, the Tribes visited Scottish Power’s shareholder meeting in 
Scotland to build support for dam removal and salmon restoration on the 
Klamath. This time they bring their message to Sacramento. According to Leaf 
Hillman, vice-chairman of the Karuk Tribe, “We represent the three biggest 
Indian Tribes in California and the biggest in Oregon. We need the governor 
to take strong steps to restore the Klamath River to the benefit of not only 
the Tribes, but to all Californians and Oregonians.”

For the tribes, salmon represent an integral part of their cultures. Each 
tribe has unique ceremonies based on the annual return of salmon. As the 
salmon runs dwindle ceremonies are lost. In addition, commercial fishermen 
and communities dependant on the fishing economy struggle to survive as 
well. Hillman argues that, “what’s at risk here is the region’s cultural 
heritage as well as the economy.”

According to a study by the Institute of Fisheries Resources, a restored 
Klamath Basin would be valued at $4.5 billion, providing a needed economic 
boost to struggling rural economies along the California and Oregon coasts.

Although several factors are blamed for the salmon’s decline, the Tribes are 
currently focused on the dams, which, according to tribal leaders, could be 
removed as part of the FERC relicensing process. According to Jeff Mitchell 
of the Klamath River Inter-tribal Fish and Water Commission, “We know that 
dam removal won’t solve all of our problems, but re-opening the 350 miles of 
habit upstream of the dams is a prerequisite to any other restoration 
programs.” Dams create problems for salmon by blocking access to spawning 
grounds and degrading water quality. The current dam license expires in 
March 2006. Dam licenses typically last 50 years, therefore, river advocates 
view relicensing as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to restore rivers.

Last summer, Scottish Power executives promised tribal members that dam 
removal is “on the table” as a possible result of the relicensing. But a 
willingness on the part of the company will not likely be enough to make the 
tribes’ goals a reality. Political support will be necessary as well.

So far, tribal leaders say that they are encouraged by the actions of the 
governor, but they hope their rally will prompt the governor to take bolder 
steps to bring the Klamath salmon home. The tribes say that state agencies 
can place strict conditions on any new license and that for removal to 
happen, state and federal funding will be needed.

March 14 marks the 8th annual International Day of Action for Rivers and 
this event is one of dozens being held around the world to bring awareness 
to the negative impacts that dams, diversions, and water pollution create 
for communities dependant on healthy rivers.

Groups marching in support of the Tribes include Friends of the River, 
International Rivers Network, and the Pacific Federation of Fishermen’s 
Associations.

For information log on to: www.friendsoftheriver.org and www.irn.org