On Friday, August 2nd, California Trout officially filed a letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and attached the signatures of 1,494 supporters in support of the Klamath Dam removal. We were amazed by the overwhelming response from you, our members and supporters. Thank you for your support. Filing this letter is a huge step forward towards restoring a free-flowing Klamath River.
CalTrout’s letter was in addition to the filing by the Klamath River Renewal Corporation (KRRC) on July 29th. This submission to FERC is another concrete step toward fulfilling the terms of the Amended Klamath Hydroelectric Settlement Agreement (KHSA).
“This is a project of vast importance for the environment, the river, and the people and communities in the Klamath Basin,” said Mark Bransom, KRRC Chief Executive Officer. “Our submission to FERC proves that we understand the magnitude of our charge and are on the right path. We have the funding, the team, the expertise and the plan to do it right and pen a vibrant new chapter of Klamath River history. We want to particularly underscore the years of effort by tribal communities who truly laid the foundation for where we are today.”
Next steps: FERC will decide on the KRRC license transfer and surrender applications. KRRC anticipates beginning drawdown and removal as early as 2022, pending action by FERC and other regulators.
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Peter Moyle is the Distinguished Professor Emeritus in the Department of Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology and Associate Director of the Center for Watershed Sciences, at UC Davis. He is author or co-author of more than 240 publications, including the definitive Inland Fishes of California (2002). He is co-author of the 2017 book, Floodplains: Processes and Management for Ecosystem Services. His research interests include conservation of aquatic species, habitats, and ecosystems, including salmon; ecology of fishes of the San Francisco Estuary; ecology of California stream fishes; impact of introduced aquatic organisms; and use of floodplains by fish.
Robert Lusardi is the California Trout/UC Davis Wild and Coldwater Fish Researcher focused on establishing the basis for long-term science specific to California Trout’s wild and coldwater fish initiatives. His work bridges the widening gap between academic science and applied conservation policy, ensuring that rapidly developing science informs conservation projects throughout California. Dr. Lusardi resides at the UC Davis Center for Watershed Sciences and works closely with Dr. Peter Moyle on numerous projects to help inform California Trout conservation policy. His recent research interests include Coho salmon on the Shasta River, the ecology of volcanic spring-fed rivers, inland trout conservation and management, and policy implications of trap and haul programs for anadromous fishes in California.
Patrick Samuel is the Conservation Program Coordinator for California Trout, a position he has held for almost two years, where he coordinates special research projects for California Trout, including the State of the Salmonids report. Prior to joining CalTrout, he worked with the Fisheries Leadership & Sustainability Forum, a non-profit that supports the eight federal regional fishery management councils around the country. Patrick got his start in fisheries as an undergraduate intern with NOAA Fisheries Protected Resources Division in Sacramento, and in his first field job as a crew member of the California Department of Fish & Wildlife’s Wild and Heritage Trout Program.