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Nature Conservancy Applauds Klamath Agreement

Urges All Stakeholders to Work Cooperatively to Advance Conservation Goals

PORTLAND, OREGON — November 14, 2008 — The Nature Conservancy applauds the Agreement in Principle announced by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Governor Kulongoski, Governor Schwarzenegger, and PacifiCorp, setting the stage for removal of four dams on the Klamath River. This agreement provides a truly historic opportunity to advance the conservation and restoration of extremely important fisheries across the Klamath Basin. While many details of a complex plan remain to be worked out, we call on all the stakeholders to continue working in a cooperative spirit toward the goal, and we stand ready to assist in any way possible.

The Klamath Basin is widely recognized for its extraordinary natural diversity, including freshwater habitats critical to migrating and rearing coho and Chinook salmon, steelhead, and Lost River and shortnose suckers. In the middle of the Pacific Flyway, the basin also hosts over two million migrating and breeding birds annually. Many fish and other species living in the Klamath Basin are found nowhere else on Earth. Careful conservation of these resources is the only responsible course and represents an irreplaceable legacy to future generations.

For over 25 years, The Nature Conservancy has worked in partnership with private landowners, tribes, local governments, environmental organizations and federal and state agencies to develop pragmatic solutions that protect and restore key habitats and natural systems in the Klamath Basin. In Oregon, the Conservancy is currently working at Sycan Marsh and Williamson River Delta preserves.

We look forward to continuing this work with tremendous respect and appreciation for the efforts of all the parties contributing to the goal of long-term fish and wildlife conservation throughout this vital region.

The Nature Conservancy is a leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. The Conservancy and its more than 1 million members have protected nearly 120 million acres worldwide.