Planned dam removal project begins on Klamath River

Klamath River
Spread the love

July 18, 2023 –– Work has begun on the biggest dam removal project in U.S. history, a move welcomed by California’s Native American population that has historically relied on salmon fishing.

Following approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission last year, PacificCorp was allowed to surrender it license for four hydroelectric dams on the Klamath River, establishing the framework for the removal of four dams on the Klamath system. The dams do not provide irrigation or drinking water. The hydropower generated is about half of what could be generated in better climate conditions. A larger factor in the decision was the dams’ effect on the salmon population and drought.

The four dams to be decommissioned in the $500 million removal project include:

  • Iron Gate Dam;
  • Copco Dams 1 and 2; and
  • J. C. Boyle Dam.

One of the dams is now gone.  Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) reports that “all that remains of the dam known as Copco 2 in Siskiyou County, California, is the headworks of a diversion tunnel adjacent to the now free-flowing river.” OPB writes that 400 miles of fish habitat that was cut off for more than a centuryOpens in a new tab. will be reopened once all four dams have been removed, and that the remaining three dams are slated for removal in January.

News Video:

 

Top Image:

A view across the Klamath River of apparatus moving on a dirt road, public domain image via Wikimedia CommonsOpens in a new tab..

Deborah

Since 1995, Deborah has owned and operated LegalTech LLC with a focus on water rights. Before moving to Arizona in 1986, she worked as a quality control analyst for Honeywell and in commercial real estate, both in Texas. She learned about Arizona's water rights from the late and great attorney Michael Brophy of Ryley, Carlock & Applewhite. Her side interests are writing (and reading), Wordpress programming and much more.

Leave a Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Recent Posts

0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x
Skip to content