Oregon Public Broadcasting

A key environmental group announced Monday that it’s lost confidence in the negotiations to breach four dams on the Klamath River.

Ethan Lindsey reports.

Groups working on the federally-backed Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement say it is close to being harmonized with a separate deal to destroy four Pacificorp dams on the Klamath River.

California-based Northcoast Environmental Center Klamath coordinator Jay Wright says his group could no longer negotiate in good faith on the hydro deal, because of what he called numerous “preconditions” and lengthy time frame.

The project, which is a decade off, would be the largest dam removal in history.

James Honey is working on the negotiations for the group Sustainable Northwest.

He says the environmental complaints won’t stop the process.

James Honey: “I don’t take it as anything really new or really big, or gamechanging. I think it is unfortunate, given that I’m still not sure that they have an alternative.”

Environmentalists opposed to the deal say they have drafted a counterproposal that is better for the region.