The Klamath River Basin was once home to one of the West’s most prolific salmon fisheries. But for more than a century, efforts to harness the natural power of the river through the installation of hydroelectric dams, have contributed to devastating declines in water quality, the region’s anadromous fisheries, and the tribal, recreational, and commercial economies and communities they support.
The dams mentioned (Iron Gate, Copco 1, Copco 2, and JC Boyle) are blocking salmon and steelhead from reaching more than 300 miles of spawning and rearing habitat in the upper basin. CalTrout has been involved with the removal of these dams for many years, and we will continue to be until they are taken down.
This will be the largest dam removal and river restoration efforts ever performed in U.S. history. The Klamath dam removal initiative received an enormous boost in late 2020, when a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was announced by PacifiCorp, the States of California and Oregon, the Karuk and Yurok Tribes, and the Klamath River Renewal Corporation (KRRC). Warren Buffett, who owns the company that owns the dams, praised the unprecedented agreement. Then in January of 2021, it was announced that the ecological restoration company, Resource Environmental Solutions, LLC would be taking the role as lead restoration contractor.
While some of the biggest steps to opening up this historic habitat are yet to come, the work of so many partners over the years to enhance fish passage in the Klamath Basin has set the stage for dramatic improvements when the dams finally come down. Stay tuned as this story of fish passage in the Klamath Basin nears what could be an exciting next chapter!
Want to learn more about Klamath dam removal? Check out CBS News’ story, featuring epic aerial footage of the dams by CalTrout’s own Mike Wier.
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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.
5 Comments
What is the time frame for when the dams are to be removed? Will it be phased over several years, and what will be the order of the dam removals?
The dams are slated to be removed by 2022/2023. Copco No. 2 will be removed first. Deconstruction of the remaining three dams would occur essentially at the same time. Iron Gate Dam will be the last one to be fully removed due to the size of the dam and the amount of material that must be removed. More information can be found at the Klamath River Renewal Corporation website: http://www.klamathrenewal.org/
I believe removal of dams at this time or any time when we are in dire need of water. We should be enlarging water storage not removing it. Build salmon ladders don’t remove perfectly good. dams.
Robert needs to wake up and get the facts as to the importance of this/these removals. Likely he’s a water waster, as well.
The premise for Klamath Dam removal is a false premise: Geologic evidence, which is not subject to interpretation of politics, shows that fish migration past Wards Canyon and Cocpo 1 dam was virtually impossible…
https://www.einnews.com/pr_news/547785001/klamath-river-and-klamath-river-dams-critical-points-regarding-krrc-s-proposal-to-remove-klamath-dams
Notice: I have a screen shot of this comment made at CAL-TROUT… and if there is censorship, it will be made known.
William E. Simpson II – Naturalist