This is the other side of the story!  Many of the citizens of Siskiyou county have united to give their opinions regarding the removal of the four dams on the Klamath River, that the enviromentalists and Indians have so loudly said need to go.  Well I hope that WE will be heard now!  The four Dams in question are Iron Gate, Copco 1, Copco 2 and J C Boyle all located on the Klamath River, of course most of us know this because of all the bad press the Klamath and Dams have recently had.

 

No one has mentioned any of the residents of this area, asked what their opinions are, how it's going to affect our lives, our property values, businesses, the economic growth of our county and surrounding counties.  It will devastate an entire Eco-System that has been established and flourishing for nearly 100 years.  Copco Dam was built in 1917, the fish haven't been home in 89 years, and according to records they were never past Copco Marsh before the Dams.  But regardless, the damage was done when the dams were put in, we can't change that fact, but how can the Enviromentalists and the Indians justify the killing of a Eco-System here now, and the destruction of their own county, sorry we all live here it's not always about you!

 

The blue green algae issue was thrown around so much in the press this summer that some of us thought we were turning green.  This was purely a political attack to try and weaken the powers above.  It's no wonder Pacific Corp. is so tired fighting the battle with these people, they certainly get annoying.  But this is what they want to do, be annoying. 

 

The residents of the Klamath Basin and of Iron Gate, Copco Lake and on up the river are tired of other people telling us what to do.  We like our power rates as they are.  The California power grid is strained enough.  We want to keep our homes, property, businesses and lakes and river the way they are today.  Without these lakes we have no fire control at all in Northern Calif.  These lakes have saved many families and their homes from great losses.  I'll bet the river has even saved a few in the Karok tribe?  You know the river floods every winter and trickles in the summer, it is written.  You know the fish aren't going to go home unless you plant them.  Why keep doing this?

 

There is proof that the river is not killing the fish, rather Bacteria and Disease are.  There are fixes to every thing that is broken but why don't we hear about them?  It's all about the money and what they have to gain.

 

It boils down to:  They used bad science with the spotted owl and who took care of all the hundreds of people affected by that?  The people who lost their jobs?  The businesses lost?  The towns that closed?  We did, the tax payers.  So this time use good science and look forward not back.  Who's going to compensate the entire county and it's residents and businesses when we lose all the tourism that helps this community flourish?  When we lose property and home values?  Our tax dollars?  Who is going to pay for the dam removals and the clean up from all the sediment that will kill the river for years if not removed correctly?  Again our tax dollars?

 

To all the Enviromentalists and Indians and any other guy who wants to join in on the Battle of the Dams, come on over.  There are 44,000 people in Siskiyou County and 26,000 in surrounding areas all sharing the power we have form Paciic Corp. and these dams, how many of them are you?  The residents of Iron Gate, Copco Lake and the Klamath River all plan on staying on for the long haul.  We won't give up the fight.

 

You know what our committee has said more than once?  We wish the press and the reporters would print less off the Associated Press and maybe do some homework to check the validity of the stories they are printing.  The bad press that the Klamath has taken has been extremely one sided and full of untruths.

 

The Enviromentalists and the Indians say send a letter?  OK, How about one to Save the Dams!!!!!!!!!!

 

K. Walden

Iron Gate Lake

Hornbrook, Ca