Conflict between endangered sucker fish and two small hydroelectric plants on the Link River triggered dispute at a meeting in Klamath Falls Wednesday evening…
It’s estimated that over one million sucker larvae are destroyed by turbines in the ‘East’ and ‘West’ side power plants on the Link River each year.
Those mortality rates to sucker larvae did prompt some questions about whether Pacificorp should be allowed to run the East or West plants, or if they’re in violation of the Endangered Species Act.
Pacificorp has been helping to mitigate those losses by helping to fund projects like habitat restoration on the Williamson River Delta.
Klamath Basin farmer Lynn Long believes that with improvements, the hydro plants should be allowed to stay…
“Because one, it’s natural, renewable power – and two, it could be a partial solution to the electric power dilemma that’s facing agriculture in the basin.”
Pacificorp, and US Fish and Wildlife officials took comment Wednesday on a report outlining possible impacts of dam removal on Lost River, and shortnose suckers.
Tim Hemstreet of Pacificorp notes: “The point of the habitat conservation plan is to really get a formal plan in place that we can benefit suckers, and balance hydropower with the needs of listed fish.”
While no formal date has been set, Pacifcorp plans to decommission the 3.8 megawatt Link River plants sometime before the year 2020.
Comments on the sucker ‘Habitat Conservation Plan’ are being taken through March 28th by US Fish and Wildlife.
Here are links to those reports:
www.fws.gov/klamathfallsfwo/news/PCorpHCP/PacifiCorp-pHCP-01242013.pdf
www.fws.gov/klamathfallsfwo/news/PCorpHCP/PacifiCorp-pHCP-DRAFT-EA-01242013.pdf
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