Editorial
Salt Caves Dam
will be damaging
The proposed Salt Caves Dam Hydroelectric Project on
the Klamath River is a had idea, and here’s why:
•The Oregon Department of Energy and other govern
mental agencies have evaluated the project and determined
that its HO megawatts of hydroelectric power are currently
not required, either hy the Klamath Falls region or elsewhere
in the Northwest. In fact, the federal Bonneville Power Ad
ministration has stated that the region has a power surplus
• World-class whitewater rapids used for recreational
purposes would be completely destroyed.
• Although $10 million would be spent to improve the
trout's situation, the $131 million project would still harm a
wild rainbow trout fishery, damaging what many fishermen
claim to lie one of Oregon's host trout fishing rivers. The
Oregon Department of Environmental Quality ruled in
August that the dam would harm the the river's fish popula
tion by increasing water temperatures as much as 2.5
degrees Fahrenheit.
•Wildlife, such as bald eagles and blacktail deer, may
Ixj affected adversely by the construction of the dam.
Klamath Falls proposes to sell energy generated from
the dam to relieve property taxes in the city and to imple
ment an economic development program in Klamath Coun
ty. Klamath Falls has a valid interest in attempting to
stimulate its economy; however, the Salt Caves Dam should
not be built to benefit the residents of Klamath County at the
cost of destroying a recreational resource that serves the
residents of Oregon's other 35 counties. The proposal
displays an attitude of self-interest that disregards the valid
concerns of other Oregonians who actively use the river.
Although residents of the Klamath Falls region claim
the dam is necessary to stimulate the county's depressed
economy, the resulting economic growth also will lie at the
expense of damage to the environment.
Furthermore, the economic benefits from the construc
tion of the dam will be primarily short-run gains as con
trasted with the relatively long-term environmental damage
it will entail. The economy of Klamath Falls should not be
stimulated at the expense of permanent damage to the
ecosystem.
Oregon Cov. Neil Goldschmidt announced his opposi
tion to the Salt (]aves Dam last Thursday. This led residents
of Klamath Falls to question whether Goldschmidt's
economic "comeback" campaign is sincere and whether his
drive to generate jobs is serious.
Goldschmidt countered this criticism by stating that
other, more feasible strategies should be adopted to boost
the economy in the Klamath Falls region. This response is
appropriate, and should be heeded by the residents of
Klamath Falls.
For example, the rafting and fishing recreation in
dustries along the Klamath River currently generate more
than $2 million a year in revenue. The river as a recreational
resource could be marketed to enhance the local economic
situation. Uut if the project is constructed the revenue
generated from recreational activities will lx? lost.
If the Salt Gaves Dam is allowed to be built, it will not
only supply unneeded energy at the expense of environmen
tal damage, but also decrease the recreational facilities of the
Pacific Northwest.
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Letters
Assumptions
While i am glad to see the
Emerald giving coverage to the
Central American Peace Plan. I
feel it is important to note that
several statements concerning
El Salvador in the editorial
"Central America: is peace
keeping pace?" (ODE, Nov. 6).
were based on false information
or assumptions.
1) The Salvadoran govern
ment has not "lifted its state of
siege" as the editorial stated.
For example, in the short time
since the Guatemala Peace Ac
cords were signed, there have
been 30 documented human
rights violations carried out by
the Salvadoran military
In October, the president of
the non-governmental human
rights commission was
assassinated in front of his
children; in September, a
university union leader disap
peared The Los Angeles Times
reported Monday that political
violence is escalating
2) The “rebels” in El
Salvador do not receive military
aid from Cuba, as the editorial
stated In fact, a CIA official
who was sent to El Salvador
specifically to investigate
sources of funding to the
FMLN/FDR found no evidence
of aid coming from Cuba or the
Soviet Union.
Oregon Daily
Emerald
P.O. But .IIJS. tugrw, ()rt|ai
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3) It should be remembered
that it was the Salvadoran
government which signed the
Peace Accords, not the
FMLN/FDR. The responsibility
to make peace thus lies squarely
with the government.
I encourage the Emerald and
anyone else interested in learn
ing more about the situation in
El Salvador to contact the
UO/UES Sister University Pro
ject here on campus in Suite 1 of
the EMU.
Susanna MacDonald
English
Free zone
Except for the Register-Guard
which supposedly "did not
think anything was going to
happen," the media were well
represented on Oct. 19 at a
packed public hearing before
the Eugene Nuclear Free Zone
(NFZ) Task Force, of which 1
have been a member.
We listened to three hours of
moving and often eloquent
testimony by citizens from
diverse backgrounds and pro
fessions. All but three spoke in
support of the comprehensive
nuclear free zone law passed by
voters a year ago Most also
specifically referred to the
"minimally revised version" or
"MRV" as the only ordinance
revision which resolves the
minor legal problems of the
original law without "watering
it down."
As a direct result of the public
outcry at the hearings and in let
ters (over 1.500), the Task Force
voted on Nov. 6, appropriately
near the one-year anniversary of
the NFZ approval by voters, to
send not only a watered-down
version with loopholes, as had
been anticipated, but also the
"minimally revised version" to
the City Council for a decision
in December.
Of all versions considered for
referral to the council, the NFZ
Task Force gave the MRV the
most votes. 11-0.
Thanks to all who helped the
task force realize the over
whelming support of the MRV. I
urge you and others who want
to defend your nuclear free zone
to contact Mayor Obie and the
City Council, and help them
come to the same realization.
They should adopt the
"minimally revised version"
because only it preserves the in
tegrity of the nuclear free zone
law you had the wisdom to ap
prove one year ago.
David F. Zupan
Eugene Nuclear Free Zone
Task Force
Planning
I am writing in regard to the
recent "Unjust view" letter
(ODE. Nov. 11). Ms. Foutts says
that. “He can’t possibly be in
formed on what it is really like
to suffer an unwanted pregnan
cy, because it is my guess he has
never been a woman faced with
this tragedy” (referring to Mr
Moore’s letter).
My position is that of pro life
I literally disapprove of the
medium of abortion. 1, as many
others, have been taught that it
is more important to present*
life, rather than exterminate it!
What is the value of human
life? What if you had just been
“aborted?" Ms. Foutts has the
point of view that if you have a
special ‘strain’ in your life, such
as financial, emotional, or
physical, why then you should
have the power to abolish a
human life itself (such as
abortion).
My main grievance is that
people like Ms. Foutts, who
think they have the power to
destroy a human life, are getting
away with murder, and may
possibly themselves be
misinformed.
Planned Parenthood, from
support of United Way, has
moral services, which do not
have immoral consequences
For one. Planned Parenthood
offers the distribution of con
doms. which are not merely us
ed to avoid pregnancy, but to
combat AIDS.
Both United Way and Plan
ned Parenthood are doing what
they have to do. 1 would like to
recognize them for the good
they are doing, for we need
some of their services to combat
this epidemic of the
’80s. . AIDS.. .it kills!
Trevor R. Solander
Eugene