WASHINGTON, D.C. —It’s one of those projects that
hits all the right notes. Klamath Irrigation District (KID) is investing $2
million in a small-scale hydroelectric facility at the C-Drop that would create
up to 18 jobs, 3,000 MWH of clean power annually, and hundreds of thousands of
dollars in revenues every year.
But it almost hit a fatal snag in the last week.
Last year, KID received all the necessary state and
federal agency approvals for the project after no objections were raised during
public comment periods. Construction began in December on the hydroelectric
facility at the “C-Drop,” where water from the A Canal spills into the C Canal.
The project enjoys widespread support from organizations like the Oregon Energy
Trust, the Klamath Tribes, and the Klamath Water Users Association.
But at the 11th hour and long after the public
comment period had closed, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) released a letter
on December 29, 2011 that proposed construction of a fish screen at the C-Drop.
Such a mandate, which would cost millions of dollars, would delay the project
indefinitely, effectively killing it and sinking the investment already made by
KID.
A study
performed last year by the Bureau of Reclamation already found that the
project would not result in any significant impacts to wildlife, including
protected fish species. That’s because a fish screen already exists on the A
Canal, off which the C-Drop hydro facility is being built. In other words, a
multi-million dollar fish screen on the C-Drop would be redundant and,
ultimately, a waste of money.
After learning of BIA’s letter, the office of Rep. Greg
Walden (R-Ore.) contacted the federal agencies involved to inquire about the
last-minute threat to this popular job-creating clean energy project. KID
received notice yesterday that BIA had dropped the concerns and construction
could continue as planned.
“These are the kinds of projects that everyone should be
able to get behind,” Rep. Walden said. “I was deeply concerned when I heard
that an unjustified 11th hour threat was made to this project—after
construction had already begun. The project is creating good and much-needed
jobs for the community and will create important revenue for both the Klamath
Irrigation District and the county. I am glad that the federal agencies
ultimately did the right thing and will allow this good, long-planned project
continue to move forward.”
“Thanks to Congressman Greg Walden and Department of the
Interior staff, the Klamath Irrigation District can now again concentrate on
the business at hand: completion of our hydro project and preparing for
delivery of irrigation water that soon will also be able to produce clean power
and revenues to the District,” said KID Manager Mark Stuntebeck.
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