Current affairs at Leaburg

In 2018 EWEB stopped generating power at its Leaburg Hydroelectric Plant. In 2023 it announced that a selection process had decided to remove the dam, for a number of reasons.

Leaburg dam has been there for around 100 years, and it has been argued that nature has adapted. It is absolutely the case that the residents of the McKenzie Valley have adapted in many ways.

To the south of the State, the worlds largest dam removal took place on the Klamath River. It was a very expensive project and its removal has provided some insight into what may happen on the McKenzie. We spoke to some of the Klamath residents, and visited the area. The area economy was shattered, and many people found that the water table fell below the bottom of their well suction tube. They will need to drill new wells on their nickel. There is much written about the undoubtedly significant efforts made in restoration, very little on the human cost.

We all have a responsibility to be mindful of the world around us, and to listen to advances in our understanding. We took a look at the EWEB commission meeting records, and examined in depth their

decision.

There are many questions which EWEB has left unanswered, and some of their statements which may well be misleading. The implications of the actions being proposed by the EWEB board were not fully known or understood when made. Details impacting roads and infrastructure, as well as residents, who

may lose some of their property are not divulged even two years later. The principal proposal for the canal appears to have been abandoned or altered – but the financial impact of doing that has not been divulged. Tourism and fishing are the major industries other than forestry here – and there are a great many concerns.

Removing the dam and allowing fish to return was not an agenda item for the EWEB discussion, but it has been a discussion topic since the decision – that aspect has been examined. The economics of the

EWEB decision were also looked at. One significant question is why EWEB wants to spend $200 million, rather than just selling the dam.

Around 1500 people have signed a petition over concerns surrounding the plant closure. Thank you for your support, we have written to FERC (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) with some of our. Those concerns can be found at www.leaburglake.com. Unlike Klamath the McKenzie is

highly integrated into our community. Whatever the outcome we need to make the right decision for future generations.

The board of Oregon Citizens for Energy Security

Write to us at: upstreamchatter@proton.me On the web: www.leaburglake.com