On Wednesday April 6 a group of dignitaries including California Governor Jerry Brown, Interior Secretary Sally Jewell, Congressman Jared Huffman, and representatives of PacificCorps, local tribes, water users, and non-governmental organizations gathered on the Yurok Indian Reservation at the mouth of the Klamath River to sign an historic agreement to remove four dams that have been impeding fish passage and impairing water quality for many years. Funding for dam removal has already been allocated, and it is expected that they will be gone by 2020.
“Today is a historic day where the parties who have worked for decades to restore the Klamath Basin are reaffirming their commitment to each other for the shared vision of fisheries restoration and irrigated agriculture co-existing as we move into the future,” said Secretary Jewell. “This agreement is an important initial step as we work toward a comprehensive set of actions to advance long term restoration and sustainability for tribes, fisheries, and agriculture and water users across the Klamath Basin.”
“This historic agreement will enable Oregon and California and the interested parties to get these four dams finally removed and the Klamath River restored to its pristine beauty," Governor Brown added.
