Klamath Voters speak against dam removal

Herald and News letter to editor by James Finses, Copco Lake 11/20/16

Klamath County has voted.

The vote concerning removal of dams on the Klamath River indicated 72 percent of the voters do not want the dams removed. This correlates to the 90 percent of Siskiyou County and Tulelake voters who do not want them removed.

It reflects the positions of the Klamath County Board of Commissioners and the Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors, Oregon legislators Gail and Doug Whitsett, California congressman Doug LaMalfa, and California representative Brian Dahle, who also do not want them removed.

Based on this, a few questions must be asked to U.S. senators Merkley and Wyden:

1. Why would you endorse closed door, secret meetings to determine Klamath River policy over the voters of Klamath County, Tulelake, and Siskiyou County?

2. Why would you endorse scrapping low-cost, renewable energy generations for 70,000 homes over the opposition of county governments in Klamath and Siskiyou counties?

3. Why would you be a facilitator of giving away 93,000 acres of prime government timberland as bribes to Indian groups when such land has nothing to do with salmon?

4. Why does the wishes of a few select special interest groups and environmentalists get your endorsement over the multitude of people who have cast their votes? In other words, if my vote doesn't count, why vote?

5. Finally, please explain why two Oregon Democratic senators will not represent the voters of Southern Oregon while two Republican Oregon legislators, a Republican California congressman, and a Republican California state representative all listen to the voter base.

The Klamath Falls Herald and News and the Siskiyou Daily News in Yreka probably would be open to printing your clear, non-political answers to these questions. Please explain your positions for dam removal when the voters have spoken.

James Finses

Copco Lake