Kilarc hydropower suitors compare plans at Whitmore Picnic
 By Frank Galusha Steve Tetrick and his staff from Evergreen Shasta Power LLC and a representative of Davis Hydro manned booths at the annual Kilarc Picnic on September 27 to explain their plans to “Save Kilarc” reservoir and enhance the fishery if they are allowed to assume control of the Hydropower facilities on South Cow Creek and Old Cow Creek.
Approximately 100 residents and anglers showed up to hear presentations; others came just to fish and enjoy the food served and their picnic basket lunches. A number of anglers were interviewed who had caught fish using worms, PowerBait or a combination of marshmallows and pieces of worm.
At Evergreen Shasta’s booth the public got a good look at the plan to enhance salmon habitat on South Cow Creek. A map, described as a “Proposed Salmon Preserve,” and a flyer were distributed.
  Evergreen Shasta wants the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to grant them the right to operate both hydropower facilities at the two watersheds. Their proposal was labeled “The In-County Solution,” which did an excellent job of comparing and contrasting what would happen if the hydropower facilities are allowed to be destroyed.  Steve Tetrick, Evergreen Shasta (l) shakes hands the author  Steve Tetrick (l) explains Evergreen Shasta "Salmon Preserve Plan" to Sharyn Cornelius (back to camera) and other picnic attendees. Photos by James Sherman At the Davis Hydro booth, manned by Nathan J. Sackheim, the son of Davis Hydro Consultant, Kelly Sackheim, a brochure and map were also distributed to explain the company’s plans for Old Cow Creek, which include habitat improvement in what is known as the diversion canal or headrace. The Davis Hydro plan is described as “The Steelhead Project” on their map of that region. Their goal is to raise trout in the canal and channel them back into Old Cow Creek to improve fishing and allow trout to migrate downstream perhaps to the sea and return as steelhead.
Davis Hydro proposes to create a trust with the Friends of Cow Creek Preserve (or the Commuities) to operate the Kilarc Hydropower facility and use some of the funds to enhance any of the fisheries as directed by the trust but is not interested in operating the South Cow power plant.
Evergreen Shasta, which has the support of the County at this time, proposes to capitalize the two projects, donate and improve some good salmon habitat on South Cow and use part of the proceeds of hydropower generation to pay for that.
Resourse agencies such as the Department of Fish and Game prefer to see more water returned to the original streams but observance of water rights complicate just how that might be done in the case of the South Cow. For the Old Cow, local residents are worried they'll lose the valuable recreation area at Kilarc as well as the green power generated. Local residents also believe there are impediments to fish migration on the Old Cow that could preclude the creation of significant habitat upstream from Whitmore Falls in the case of salmon and upstream of the Kilarc power generating facility in the case of steelhead. Many old-timers say they have never seen steelhead in the higher reaches of Old Cow.
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