July 6, 2005

RE: Auburn Dam

Friends and colleagues,

The issue of the Auburn Dam is one that doesn't seem to ever go away.

Continued activity by a very small, very local contingent in Congress keeps the issue alive in spite of its many fiscal, environmental, safety, and recreational problems and in spite of continued opposition and defeat. Rising costs to make needed flood control improvement to Folsom Dam and a poll conducted by die-hard dam proponents have raised the issue yet again.

If you've visited Auburn State Recreation Area, or if you've read Ranger Jordon Fisher Smith's book, "Nature Noir", you know what a park treasure the American River Canyon is and can continue to be. You can help protect this wonderful resource in a couple of ways:

1. Write a letter to the editor of the Sacramento Bee and let them know that you think that the resurrection of the costly, destructive, and dangerous Auburn Dam is a bad idea and bad public policy. The dam would cost $2-3 billion, drown 50 miles of river visited by more than a half million people every year, and be located on several earthquake faults. Letters should be no more than 200 words. To submit a letter to the editor, visit SacBee Opinion.

2. Go to Auburn Journal and then go to the bottom of the page where they are conducting an email poll as to whether the Auburn Dam should be reconsidered. Please vote "No." [Ed. Note: Poll now closed, we have asked for the final vote count and will post when known.]

3. Let your Congress person, regardless of what congressional district you may live in, know what you think of the idea and the time and enegy that's been wasted on it while other issues (like making the American River Canyon at Auburn an official park and funding it appropriately) are left unaddressed.

For more information concerning the potential threat of a resurrected Auburn Dam, visit Friends of the River.

/S/

Ron Brean, President
California State Park Rangers Association