It’s the final push to let the Klamath River flow freely once again. Four aging power dams are up for removal in 2020, the result of a collaborative agreement crafted by 42 stakeholder groups, including the dam owner PacifiCorp, which was finally signed last year. The fate of their removal now lies with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), the federal agency responsible for hydropower projects. FERC has opened up the public comment submission period; the time to act is now to make our voices heard.
The next step needed to carry through with removal is a transfer of the dam license from PacifiCorp to the entity responsible for decommissioning, the Klamath River Renewal Corporation (KRRC). If the transfer is denied, we will be taking 3 steps back in our progress. The signed agreement was a huge step in the right direction. We won’t let the Klamath Dams continue to degrade the river, fish, and our water quality.
This is our golden opportunity to restore wild salmon abundance on the West Coast. The Klamath River was once the third largest producer of salmon on the West Coast, behind Columbia and Sacramento rivers. Let’s bring it back.
How to submit your comment:
1. Go to www.ferconline.ferc.gov/QuickComment.aspx. (If you’d like to submit by mail, use address below. Include docket number P-2082-062 in letter.)
2. Enter your information including e-mail. Open automatic e-mail from FERC, follow link from there to submit comment.
3. In the docket field, enter P-2082-062 to specify the project.
4. Fill in comment form using our sample letter (scroll down) or you can write your own.
FERC requires comments be submitted by November 5th. Thank you for your help!
FERC Mailing Address:
Kimberly Bose, Secretary
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
888 First Street, NE
Washington, DC 20426
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SAMPLE LETTER
Dear Secretary Bose,
To support the removal of the four aging dams on the Klamath River- JC Boyle, Copco No. 1, Copco No. 2, and Iron Gate- I support the transfer of the PacifiCorp Hydropower Project to the Klamath River Renewal Corporation (KRRC).
Since 1917, the four Klamath Dams have blocked access to hundreds of miles of salmon and steelhead productive habitat. It has diminished the productivity of the river, blocked spawning grounds, and blocked off cold source water. Beyond loss of habitat, Iron Gate Dam now serves as a giant heat sink that creates water quality problems, including toxic algae blooms. Simply put, the removal of the four Klamath Dams represents the most significant opportunity to bolster salmon recovery on the West Coast.
The decommissioning and ultimate removal of the four Klamath Dams not only makes economic sense, but would greatly benefit the Klamath-origin salmon fisheries and all other Klamath Basin public resources that have been adversely affected by these four dams over the past 100 years.
I urge FERC to approve this proposed License Amendment and transfer to the KRRC for purposes of removing the four Klamath Dams and overseeing the restoration of the Klamath River.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
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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.
9 Comments
Dear FERC Commissioners,
Please approve the removal of the four antiquated dams on the Klamath River. These four dams provide little benefit but have dramatic consequences on the oncedge incredible fisheries downstream. The water quality from the reservoirs behind the dams is sickening. Subsequently, fish runs continue to decline to historic lows. Even the great steelhead run is depressingly in steep decline. Coho salmon, green sturgeon, eulachon are all approaching extinction levels. The Chinook Salmon runs are lowest on record. Please return thus incredible river to the it’s former glory of the steelhead Capitol of the world!
Right on! Hope you submit this online to FERC. Great explanation of why the 4 Klamath dams need to come down.
Please remove the Klathmath dams!!!
Let’s save Gods creation
I’ve been a Steelhead/Salmon angler for over 60 year. I’ve seen the fish decline. We humans have made a mess of things with regard to our rivers. Let’s reverse our direction by getting ride of the Klamath River dams. Show you care about our rivers.
We can start to reverse the damage done by removing these dams.Please sign on to remove the dams
[…] post #1 of 1 (permalink) Old Today, 10:22 AM Thread Starter HWY101 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Humboldt Posts: 25 Free the Klamath Hey folks, this was on Facebook, assume some of you may not have seen it so thought I would share. It only takes a couple moments to send in your views to the FERC, please do so. Lets make America's Rivers groovy again! Who is ready to see the Klamath Dams come down? – California Trout, Inc. […]
[…] bring the Klamath back to life! Deadline is this Sunday, Nov. 5th. Follow link for instructions: Who is ready to see the Klamath Dams come down? – California Trout, Inc.. […]
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Who is ready to see the Klamath Dams come down? | California Trout, Inc.