Klamath River Dam Removal and Pollution Abatement

By Patrick Thomas "Pat" Higgins

Pat Higgins has fished the Klamath River since 1966 and studied it as a scientist since 1988. He knows the biology and politics of the basin and what needs to be done to restore the salmon and clean up water pollution.

Recently Pat has studied the Klamath River on behalf of water quality departments of several Indian Tribes and his team's findings are truly alarming. The salmon are being stressed or poisoned by nutrient pollution flowing from reservoirs above the dams. Fish health reports document the death of hundreds of thousands young salmon annually. For more information see http://www.klamathwaterquality.com.

Water pollution problems plaguing the Klamath River are also the result of poor land and water use practices. Pat intends to work to see that pollution is abated and flows are increased, and that the farmers and ranchers stay in business to prevent sub-urban or urban development. Pat's idea is to strike a sort of trade pact that would help promote value added crops or live stock that were grown sustainably without harmful chemicals. This would provide a permanent solution to the river's problems and maintain the viability of agriculture in the Klamath Basin.

The lack of appropriate flow, dam operation and pollution not only cause a major loss to Humboldt County's economy, they deprive Native American's of their traditional food sources causing health problems and breaking 10,000 years of traditions. We must stand in solidarity with the Tribes to see that the river is healed and this social injustice is remedied.

Dam decommissioning can take decades, but we can't afford to wait. One large dam in Washington blocking salmon runs into Olympic National Park was first slated for removal in 1992 but no work has yet begun on decommissioning. The stock collapse on the Klamath River is restricting ocean fisheries and costing coastal communities $100 million this summer. Salmon scarcity in a time of good ocean conditions and wet climatic cycles indicate and ecological crisis and Pat will seek immediate action based on science. If Klamath River Hydroelectric Project Dams are still in place ten years from now, the salmon runs may be so diminished that they will be past the point of recovery.

We need action now. Tap Pat's knowledge and diplomatic skills to work on solutions to the Klamath salmon crisis by electing him Humboldt County Fifth District Supervisor.