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Klamath Falls Herald and News
January 24, 2003

Report on the Modoc County Planning Commisson meeting. The room could hardly hold the 30 or so people who attended to protest, they squeezed around a large table and ringed the outer walls of the room. The applicant did not attend, but one representative from the South Fork Irrigation District was there.

Modoc hydro project raises concerns

By JEAN BILODEAUX

ALTURAS - Dave Alvord, Modoc County's associate planner, was flooded with a roomful of questions concerning the proposed West Valley Hydroelectric project during a Thursday morning hearing.

GeoSense, an engineering company based in Idaho Falls, Idaho, wants to build a 2.8 megawatt hydroelectric generating facility eight miles east of Likely. The electricity generated would supply power to about 2,800 homes.

The company wants to divert 100 cubic feet per second through two powerhouses before releasing the water back into the South Fork of the Pit River. This would leave about five cfs in the river for a 2.9 mile distance.

"This is a non-consumptive use of the water and is allowed by existing South Fork Irrigation District laws," said Ken McGarva of the South Fork Irrigation District.

McGarva said the irrigation district would receive either 5 percent of the gross profits or buy-in for a possible larger profit or loss. Money generated to the district would relieve or erase the $20,000 per year in fees paid by the 13 district users.

Many of the concerns were centered on the 2.9-mile stretch of river, from where the water is taken from the river to where it is returned. Some speakers claimed fish habitat would essentially be destroyed.

Don Baker, who lives near the river, said that while the five cfs might sustain a redband trout, "it won't support the rainbow and brown trout also in the stream."

The area in question is considered by some as one of the most pristine and best fishing areas in the Western U.S.

Most of the people at the meeting live along the affected portion of the river. Many agreed with resident Dag Weiser, who claimed, "The river is what makes our property beautiful and desirable as a home. The river is what we invested in, to live near, fish in and care for. The river is essential to us and our neighbors, as well as countless other critters. It is an investment in our future."

Speakers said noise levels created by the power plant were not considered in the preliminary report.

"The noise level caused by 100 cfs of water down a metal pipe and 100 cfs hitting the river and the noise of the turbine engine in a metal building would all combine to destroy the serenity of our existence for 12 months of the year," said Norm Vogt, who lives close to one of the proposed power plants. "This would all occur within a stone's throw of our home. This noise would completely disrupt our daytime peace and nighttime sleep. This for us would be a hell on earth, both day and night."

River turbidity was another concern.

"The long-term effects of dumping 100 cfs into the river has not been addressed. It will cause turbidity in the river clear to Likely," said Bob Ensign.

Alvord said a turbidity test showed no significant impact.

Baker, however, was skeptical, noting, "The water samples were taken and tested by Nick Josten, the GeoSense engineer for this project. It seems to me that it's a case of the fox guarding the hen house. He's making the evaluation and stands to gain the most."

Representatives from the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management, agencies involved in the permitting process, said they will require an unbiased third party to do the sampling and testing.

Spokesmen for both agencies agreed there was insufficient data to make any decisions.

"The information provided to us was 20 years old and does not meet our standards," said Forest Service representative Jayne Biggerstaff.

It was also reported that rumors that the proposed plant will result in lower electric rates were untrue. Lynn Culp of Surprise Valley Electric said the company does not plan on buying electricity generated by the plant. The proposed plant would wheel their electricity on SVE lines before selling it to the grid.

"Any cost of changes that may have to be made to our existing lines in order to wheel this power will have to be paid for by their company," said Culp.

Another public meeting will be scheduled.

Correspondent Jean Bilodeaux covers Surprise Valley. She can be reached at (530) 279-2031, or at P.O. Box 5, Cedarville, CA 96104, or by sending an e-mail to jeanb@hdo.net.

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