Liz Writes Life Bureau of Reclamation Deputy Mikkelson  and KRRC on Dam Removal vs Siskiyou County, & Attorneys Buchal and Kogan, and Congressman LaMalfa at Siskiyou Water Users fund raiser
 

Siskiyou Daily News by Liz Bowen 10/17/17

for complete article, go here: http://pienpolitics.com/?p=28429

Mikkelsen

On Monday, Oct. 9, 2017, Alan Mikkelsen, who is the Acting Deputy Commissioner for the federal Bureau of Reclamation, was quoted in the Sacramento Bee supporting Klamath dam removal. Or to be more exact, would not stand in the way of the non-profit Klamath River Renewal Corp. and the Tribes that want the four hydro-electric Klamath River dams out. Let’s just say this did not sit well for those of us working to save our Klamath dams.

On Tuesday night, Oct. 10, 2017, our Siskiyou Co. Board of Supervisors held a public meeting with Mikkelsen along with Executive Director and Vice President of KRRC in Winema Hall at the fairgrounds in Yreka. Board Chairman, Michael Kobseff, first allowed KRRC leaders and Mikkelsen to speak.

KRRC Vice President Lester Snow was blunt. He said the decision to take down the dams is not pending, but had been made. (Hum, not by Siskiyou or Klamath Counties.) The goal of KRRC is to take ownership of the four dams from PacifiCorp, who will surrender the license through FERC, which is the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

Snow continued saying they are looking for alternative water supply for the Iron Gate Fish Hatchery and possibly even for the City of Yreka. Uh oh, they now acknowledge dam removal could affect Yreka’s city water supply? On flooding, he said their consultants have looked at the issues and long-term liability if KRRC disappears. So, KRRC is looking for liability insurance. Yep, they are! Scary!

KRRC promised a series of property owner meetings in the Copco area this week and admitted it is still trying to gain knowledge about the amount of sediment that will be released during dam destruction and how they will remove it as it pollutes the river. Oh, gosh the sediment pollution is real!

Mikkelsen tried to gain trust by saying he was a rancher in Montana. It didn’t go over well. He said the Trump administration is not anti-dam, but claimed the situation is a business decision by PacifiCorp. (You and I know PacifiCorp has been coerced!)

Chairman Kobseff was the first of the supervisors to question the three outsiders. He asked if KRRC will be able to pre-empt state and local permits, such as one that should be needed from the county for demolition? The way I heard it, Snow said “yes.” What!

 Kobseff asked if the state and federal Environmental studies, CEQA and NEPA are being accomplished. The answer is that the state water board is doing CEQA (it is pro dam removal) and FERC is doing NEPA. More foxes watching the hen house, I would say.

The other four supervisors asked pointed questions and provided a united front against this atrocity. Many of the answers were vague – after all the largest dam removal project in the United States is an experiment.

A vast majority of the public comments were against destruction of the dams echoing comments from our supervisors, concerns about fraud, the increase cost in our power and environmental destruction. Mikkelsen kept his head buried in his lap top. When he was accused of lack of eye contact with the public, he said he was writing the comments down. Sure.

It looks to me like Mikkelsen made a deal with the Devil and has promised monies to our local Tribes that are always litigating or complaining about Siskiyou County. During public comment, I told this to Mikkelsen. No wonder he wouldn’t look us in the eye.

Fundraiser

So it was déjà vu, when on Sat. night, Oct. 14, 2017 more than 200 people again filled Winema Hall to raise funds to save the Klamath dams. Dave Tyler did a super job on the prime rib and the ladies provided fine salads and potato casseroles. Seems like many of us have been going to meetings and fundraisers to save our dams, our water and property rights and fight the ridiculous spotted owl and coho salmon ESA listings for over 25 years. Yep, déjà vu!!!

Richard Marshall, president of Siskiyou Water Users, served as M.C. Congressman Doug LaMalfa and his rep. Erin Ryan were there. Doug was ripping angry at bureaucrat  Mikkelsen and asked us to write letters — right there — to DOI Secretary Ryan Zinke asking him to save the four hydro-electric Klamath dams. He also recorded us on his cell phone doing a shout to save the dams. He will be meeting with officials this week in WA. D.C. sharing the many letters and video.

Then two different attorneys offered their suggestions on the situation. James Buchal and Larry Kogan have fought the Endangered Species Act listings and water battles for decades. Their ideas are a bit different and they didn’t always agree, but both recognized the situation is dire as the powers-that-be are not following their own rules – belligerently plowing ahead with the so very costly dam destruction.

The Silent Auction was a hit with lots to choose from.

POW

Scott Valley Protect Our Water will meet Thurs., Oct. 26, 2017 at the Fort Jones Community Center at 7 p.m. Bring a desert to share, if you can.

Liz Bowen is a native of Siskiyou County and lives near Callahan. Check out her websites: Pie N Politics.com and Liz Bowen.com or call her at 530-467-3515.