The Klamath County Commissioners say they want nothing to do with dam removal, or the KBRA…despite mixed input from the community.
“Aye’ ‘Chair votes aye, motion carries.”
With that vote, the Klamath County Commissioners took a formal stand against the removal of 4 dams from the Klamath River, and the Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement.
Commissioner Dennis Linthicum believes keeping the dams will prevent more fresh water from going downstream…
“More supply will be more resources available for fish, for farmers, for agriculture, for fisheries. There would simply be more of this precious resource.”
Commissioner Tom Mallams noted that candidates in Klamath County supporting dam removal have been soundly defeated at the polls…
“Anybody who discounts the elections that have happened in the last, since 2010, we can’t deny the public input there.”
Frank Summers of the Klamath Tribal Council said he was ‘dismayed, disheartened, and somewhat ashamed’…
“What I want to know is, all the comments that were sent in, and the comments that were made here a couple Tuesdays ago, what were the numbers”
Public comment after the vote was mixed.
Belinda Scalas: “I’m very disappointed that you have chosen not to steer the ship from on it, but rather to send torpedoes at it.”
Michael Luft: “I want to thank you gentlemen for your decision, and your vote.”
The board is expected to formally adopt the order next week.
The KBRA was scheduled to expire at the end of 2012. The previous board of Klamath County Commissioners voted in November in favor of a 2-year extension, despite opposition from 2 commissioners-elect.
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