Oregon Public Broadcasting

Members of the Klamath Tribes, fishermen and others rallied in front of PacifiCorp's headquarters Thursday afternoon in Portland.  They want the utility to remove its dams from the Klamath River. Becca Bartleson reports.

About 150 people marched three blocks to stand and chant in unison. Their target is PacifiCorp.  The company owns and operates six dams on the Klamath River. 

Jeff Bitts is a commercial fisherman. As he spoke, a young man held up two one gallon jugs of murky water, clouded with algae.

Jeff Bitts: "This company, we need to urge them here today to take that chance to seize this opportunity, to take these dams that are only green because of what Chook was holding up there, that's the only way these dams are green power, they produce green water in a river that should be clear."

Bitts says the dams allow a parasite that lives in algae to flourish; a parasite that kills baby salmon.

PacifiCorp must address the Klamath tribes' concerns because its 50-year license to operate the dams has expired. It is negotiating with governmental agencies to possibly transfer ownership, and eventually remove the dams.