Klamath Falls, Ore. – Dam removal could cost Klamath County big bucks.
A half a million dollars could be cut from annual tax rolls, and that has commissioners concerned.
Klamath County Commissioner Tom Mallams traveled to Sacramento Wednesday to attend a meeting on dam removal.
Mallams says that if the J.C. Boyle Dam is removed, and the Keno Dam is placed under federal control, the county will take a big financial hit…
“The current tax revenues from J.C. Boyle Dam, and the Keno Dam amounts to about $460,000 a year.”
Mallams suggests that placing some federal land under country control could help to ease the impact…
“Getting that control and actual ownership of public lands, they say, is a deal breaker – but I think that’s something that could be discussed if the dams are going to come out. I don’t personally think they’re going to come out.”
Pacific Power says they plan to begin removing the J.C. Boyle, Copco 1 and 2, and Irongate dams by the year 2020.
Pacific Power says they can cover the cost of dam removal through a surcharge on Oregon power bills, and a bond measure passed by California voters.
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