PUBLIC WORKSHOP ON THE MCKENZIE RIVER (OR)

10:00am-2:30pm, July 10, 2004

University of Oregon, Knight Law School

Sponsored by the Hydropower Reform Coalition

IMPROVING THE MCKENZIE RIVER

The McKenzie River meets the Willamette River in Eugene, Oregon, but 50 miles upstream in the Cascades lies the Carmen-Smith project.  The project consists of three dams which reroute the confluence of the Smith and McKenzie rivers.  The hydropower dams are owned by Eugene Water and Electric Board (EWEB), and their collective operating license expires in 2008.

Right now, agencies, Tribes, and stakeholders have begun to determine which environmental issues matter.  Soon, they will be using studies to determine environmental conditions.  But with only limited public participation, this hydropower relicensing is an untapped opportunity for you to make decisions about your rivers.

THE OPPORTUNITY: A NEW LICENSE

Utilities have to get a federal permit – called a license – to generate power from our rivers.  These licenses contain water quality conditions set by the state, fish protections mandated by federal fish agencies, land protections set out by the Forest Service, and many other environmental and recreational conditions.  These conditions will be a part of the license for the next 30 to 50 years.  And if we do not influence these conditions, we will have to wait half a century before we get another chance.

COME TO THE WORKSHOP!

The Hydropower Reform Coalition will be leading a half-day active seminar with agencies, NGOs, and scientists to discuss the importance of this process and how to get involved.  We will discuss the watershed, the relicensing, and strategies for getting involved.  And we want you to attend!

July 10th, 2004, 10:00am – 2:30pm

Snacks and lunch will be provided at no cost.

Campus Map: http://www.law.uoregon.edu/campuslife/maps.php

Knight School of Law, University of Oregon, 1515 Agate Street, Eugene

To reserve your place, contact Rebecca Sherman at northwest@hydroreform.org or 971-244-0836.

To see the agenda, please go to: http://www.hydroreform.org/SupportingFiles/Documents/Agenda_for_Carmen-Smith .pdf