Goodbye Dams: Klamath River Restoration Approved
Posted on November 22, 2022 by Bob Jenks
Tags, Energy, General Interest
On November 17, U.S. regulators approved a plan to remove four dams on the lower Klamath River.
This is the largest dam removal project in the world. It will restore 300 miles of salmon habitat and has long been championed by the historic residents of the area – the Yurok, Karuk, and Hoopa. This proposal has been in the works since 2009.
CUB’s analysis showed that it would be cheaper for customer to remove the dams then to make them compliant with modern fish and wildlife standards. To continue operating the dams, Pacific Power would have had to spend millions on redesign and retrofit the dams to allow fish passage.
History of the Klamath Dam Removal
Klamath Basin Tribes Push Back
This dam removal has been the culmination of years of often heated negotiations. Yurok, Karuk, and Hoopa leaders have long raised concerns about the dams. The Klamath River and its salmon are important for these tribes’ way of life.
For years, tribal leaders have been in discussion with state and federal regulators to move for a dam removal. These negotiations also included fisheries, farmers, ranchers, and environmental organizations. CUB also participated by providing analysis that removing the dams would be less expensive for customers than relicensing.
2009: Oregon Legislature Approves Klamath Dam Removal
In 2009, the Oregon legislature approved a bill to allow PacifiCorp (Pacific Power’s parent company) to start charging customers for Klamath dam removal. With this law, CUB successfully added consumer protections. This started the process with state regulators to create a plan for dam removal.
After this bill passed, state regulators reviewed the dam removal plan. CUB provided analysis comparing the cost of relicensing and removal. Our analysis sided with tribal interests, showing that significant design changes were far more expensive than removing the dam.
2016: Dam Removal Deals are Signed
In 2016, two deals were reached to remove four PacifiCorp-owned dams on the Klamath River. These dams spanned both Southern Oregon and Northern California.
A ceremonial signing was held at the mouth of the Klamath River. Parties to the signing included Pacific Power President and CEO Stefan Bird, Oregon Governor Kate Brown, California Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr., US Department of the Interior Secretary Sally Jewell, and NOAA Administrator Dr. Kathryn Sullivan. The combined removal of the dams and subsequent river restoration effort will constitute one of the largest projects of its kind in the nation.
2020: PacifiCorp Transfers Dam Ownership
On November 17, 2020 a new deal was announced by Oregon Governor Kate Brown and California Governor Gavin Newsom. This deal aimed to ensure completion of the Klamath Basin dam removal and river restoration.
Transferring dam ownership from PacifiCorp to the Klamath River Renewal Corporation was crucial in gaining support from both Oregon and California utility regulators.
2022: Federal Regulator Give Final Approval
In November 2022, U.S. regulators at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission gave their final approval for the Klamath dam removal. This will open hundreds of miles of salmon habitat. PacifiCorp will continue to operate the dams until the demolition process begins.
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11/22/22 | 0 Comments | Goodbye Dams: Klamath River Restoration Approved