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August 22, 2006

American Sportfishing Association Policy Alert
Restoration of the Klamath River Salmon Populations—Decommission and remove the four most seaward dams on the Klamath River

How You Can Help
Please send a letter to Berkshire-Hathaway, owner of PacificCorp, as well as your Members of Congress asking them to support an equitable settlement that removes the four dams and restores the salmon fishery. PacificCorp is an electric company and owner of the dams.

ASA is actively participating in this effort. ASA garnered support from 11 other national conservation and sportfishing groups (see below) to sign onto a letter to Warren Buffett, CEO, whose firm Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. owns the controlling interest in MidAmerican, PacifiCorp's parent corporation, asking for his support in decommissioning and removing the dams. The same organizations sent letters to the editors of major West Coast and national newspapers as well as to outdoor journalists and sportfishing trade publications. West Coast angler organizations and other community-based organizations are also involved in this effort.

The Issue
For the first time in fifty years, this nation has the opportunity to restore the Klamath River salmon populations. By decommissioning and removing the four most seaward dams on the Klamath River it will be possible to restore the salmon populations which are now in a state of collapse. PacifiCorp, which owns the four dams, must renew its 50-year Federal Energy Regulatory Commission licenses for Iron Gate, Copco 1 and 2, and J.C. Boyle dams. This presents an opportunity for our state and federal governments to reach a settlement that will restore over 300 miles of this river system while at the same time accommodating PacifiCorp and its ratepayers.

Although agricultural interests withdraw water further upstream of these dams, these four dams are not used for agricultural withdrawals.

Our Position
The American Sportfishing Association (ASA) supports the efforts of the California and Oregon state governments, the federal government and other affected parties to reach an equitable settlement that will both restore the river and protect the interests of PacifiCorp and its ratepayers.

ASA will continue to work with national and local groups to take advantage of this historic opportunity. Along with ASA, the groups supporting the effort are: the American Fly Fishing Trade Association, the American Fisheries Society, the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, the Berkley Conservation Institute, the Coastal Conservation Association, the Federation of Fly Fishers, the International Game Fish Association, the Izaak Walton League, the National Marine Manufacturers Association, the Northwest Sportfishing Industry Association and the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership.