[Water_news] 3. DWR'S CALIFORNIA WATER NEWS: WATERSHEDS - 4/19/07

Department of Water Resources

California Water News

A daily compilation of significant news articles and comment

 

April 19, 2007

 

3. Watersheds

 

Editorial: A message Buffett needs to hear

Eureka Times Standard – 4/19/07

 

Warren Buffett is no dummy. The 76-year-old financial wizard of Omaha, Neb., didn't build a personal fortune of $52 billion by throwing at a dartboard. The CEO of Berkshire Hathaway knows a good investment when he sees one -- often when others don't -- and the market keeps a close eye on his every move.

 

That's why the people who care about the Klamath River and its importance of the salmon fishery to the North Coast's economic and social health are smart to take their “take out the dams” message to Berkshire Hathaway's annual shareholder meeting in early May.

 

Buffett's MidAmerican Energy Holdings bought Pacificorp two years ago.

 

American Indians, conservation groups and fishermen will make a plea that Pacificorp stop its efforts to re-license its salmon-blocking hydropower dams on the Klamath. The stakeholders -- including the Hoopa, Karuk and Klamath tribes -- will do a brush dance in an effort to education Buffett and others about the issues.

 

The timing is right for a couple of reasons. First, the Berkshire Hathaway meeting in Omaha draws a lot of attention from investors, much like the pronouncements of Apple's Steve Jobs are avidly followed by the technology world. And second, Buffett has been scratching his philanthropic itch by adding billions to Bill and Melinda Gates' foundation, which was built on their Microsoft fortune. He may be in a mood to listen to why decisions about his dams in the remote Pacific Northwest impact the lives of so many people.

 

There is more and more evidence that taking out the dams actually would financially benefit Pacificorp. That is a message that Buffett needs to hear from some real people. #

http://www.times-standard.com/allopinion/ci_5702756

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