KLAMATH BASIN
SETTLEMENT AGREEMENTS: Public review drafts of the proposed “Hydro” and
Klamath Basin Restoration Agreements (KBRA) have been posted on Siskiyou County’s
website http://www.co.siskiyou.ca.us/bos/kbra.htm
The primary parties, (PacifiCorp, Federal Government and State Governments,) are expected
to sign the document no sooner than February 11. There is no formal public comment period
by these governments and they do not believe the decision to sign requires a NEPA/CEQA environmental impact analysis. Some other
groups may also sign at this time. Then there will be a 60 day period after the “effective
date” of the agreement, (triggered by the main parties’ signatures,) for the
County to consider whether it also wishes to sign. County deliberations will be done in an
open forum with the opportunity for public comment. Siskiyou County’s
signature is NOT required for the agreements
to go forward.
If the primary parties sign
the agreement as expected, self-executing provisions of the KBRA will be in effect. Next
steps will be for any federal implementing legislation to be considered by Congress. The
California PUC will also be petitioned for a rate increase for Pacific Power customers to
cover a portion of dam removal costs. This is in addition to the current overall rate
increase request of 9.6%, (12.9% increase for residential services,) and future rate
increases to replace lost hydropower. There is also the water bond bill before the California
voters that will need to pass.
Scientific studies are
already underway and sediment sampling has been done. (Siskiyou County’s
scientific consultant has been involved.) The agreement sets forth that, after a review of
all the studies, a determination will be made by the Secretary of the Interior in 2012
whether or not to remove the four dams on the Klamath River If the Secretary
decides in favor of removal, that process will occur in 2020.
NEW COUNTY COURTHOUSE: The current
County Courthouse is an historic structure and portions of it date back
to the 1850s. It is co-owned by the County of
Siskiyou and the State of California,
(which owns the court facilities.) Shared use with the County has made for crowded
conditions. The floor plan and current multiple use of the building makes it difficult to
operate the courts according to established modern court security standards and required
access for the disabled. (Case in point, in 2000, Edward Landsdale smuggled a gun into the
current courthouse and fired several shots, wounding two persons before turning the gun on
himself. )
The State of California
has officially set aside $75-$96 million dollars out of SB 1407 monies to build a new six
courtroom facility in Yreka. Local courts are working with the City of Yreka and
the County of Siskiyou to propose that the facility be built on land they own
behind the Yreka Post Office, with the potential purchase of additional property. As the
County land is currently used for employee parking, a multi-level garage would be
constructed across Butte Street and behind the current courthouse for employee and
court parking. The old facility that used to house the Planning Dept. and the Public
Defender’s office would be razed in the process.
The land could be exchanged
for the costs that the County would owe the State to buy-out its share of the courthouse.
The County could then relocate to the courthouse some of the departments currently using
rented facilities.
Locating the new courthouse
downtown is desirable for local businesses, staff, agencies, attorneys and those in the
court system. It would remain close to the jail, Yreka P.D. and the Sheriff’s office,
(now in the old Public Works building on Butte
Street. It would reduce the need for
extensive environmental impact review and installation of new water and sewer
infrastructure. This would facilitate the start of construction, which would help the
local economy. |
