FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 1, 1999
CONTACT
Chris Zimmer, Save Our Wild Salmon,
206/622-2904 x14
Rob Masonis, American Rivers,
206/213-0330 x12
Glen Spain, Pacific Coast Federation of
Fishermen's Associations, 541/689-2000
REMOVAL OF MAINE DAM HAS LESSONS FOR NORTHWEST
The Edwards Dam on Maine's Kennebec River will be removed today through an
agreement forged by state, federal and local agencies, conservation and
fishing groups, and the dam's owner. This agreement resulted from a ruling
by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission that the enormous value of a
free-flowing Kennebec River with healthy fish runs outweighs the value of
the small amount of power produced by the dam.
"The removal of the Edwards Dam signals a shift in the way Americans value
their rivers. No longer do we see our rivers as simply industrial
workhorses to be harnessed. We now recognize the tremendous value of
free-flowing rivers with healthy salmon runs," said Tim Stearns of Save Our
Wild Salmon. "The economies, values and character of regions change over
time and we need to take a fresh look at the uses of our rivers."
The Edwards Dam removal agreement shows that dams must each be judged on
their own merits and that some dams no longer make sense. All possible
alternatives to dam removal were studied and removal was clearly the best
economic and scientific option for balancing the needs of industry, fishing
and recreation businesses, the local community, and the fish and wildlife
in the Kennebec River.
"We are not saying that all dams should go, but some are too expensive to
keep and have inflicted too much environmental damage," said Rob Masonis of
American Rivers. "We need to look at the benefits of dams in light of the
negative effects on fish, jobs, and quality of life. In the Northwest,
biology and economics are showing us that some dams, like the Elwha River
dams and the four Lower Snake dams, are mistakes that need to be corrected."
While there are important differences between the Edwards and Lower Snake
dams, the principle of taking an objective look at the costs and benefits
of keeping a dam versus the value of restoring a free-flowing river and
healthy salmon runs is the same.
"Each dam must be evaluated on its own merits and not every dam now makes
sense. The Edwards case shows that dam removal can be a good business
decision as well as a practical, doable step towards restoring healthy fish
runs," said
Glen Spain of the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations.
"Many citizens in the Northwest have reached a similar conclusion regarding
the four Lower Snake dams."
"Maine's experience shows us that an intensive and informed public debate
which looks at the merits of keeping and removing dams and does not
preclude any options before all the information is in will result in good
policy decisions," added Tim Stearns. "Some leaders in the Northwest are
demanding that partial dam removal be taken off the table rather than
fostering an open, informed public debate about all merits, costs and
options."
NOTE: For detailed factsheets on the Edwards Dam contact Chris Zimmer,
206/622-2904 x14 or see American Rivers' website at www.amrivers.org. To
obtain still or video of the dam removal please contact Maine's Planning
Office at
207/287-8050.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dean Staff Kanata On. Canada
dstaff at echelon.ca http://www.echelon.ca/dstaff/
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