Klamath Dam Removal Order Issued
On Thursday, November 17th, 2022, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued the Final License Surrender Order for four dams on the lower Klamath River.
This order is the last in a series of oversight actions from FERC required before the dams can be removed. With this order now issued, the Klamath River Renewal Corporation (KRRC), a nonprofit created to manage the physical removal of dams and restoration of the former reservoir footprints, can now carry out the plan to remove the four Klamath River Dams.
“Dam removal represents a monumental achievement. As we look beyond this historic moment, Sustainable Northwest will continue partnering in the Klamath Basin to build on this success to improve water quality and meet water demands that support Tribes, farmers, ranchers, and wildlife.”
– Greg Block, President, Sustainable Northwest
Key findings from the Order to Approve Surrender of License and Removal of Project facilities include:
“The final determination found that dam removal and associated restoration activities would result in long-term benefits to the scenery, recreation, fish, and wildlife values of the designated river segments, as compared to the present conditions.”
“... keeping the dams in place would likely require costly upgrades, including the development of fish passage facilities. Proponents also state that dam removal and restoration will create hundreds of jobs in the area and increase tourism and recreational fishing industries.”
“...Dam removal is also of great cultural importance to Tribal communities as it would aid in the continuation and restoration of Tribal practices and traditions by improving water quality, as well as the aquatic resources, fisheries, and terrestrial resources used by Tribes.”
“The proposed surrender of the Lower Klamath Project license and removal of the four project developments is the culmination of a multi-year effort supported by a broad range of stakeholders, as reflected in the provisions of the Amended Settlement Agreement. In the final EIS, Commission staff concluded that the proposed action would result in environmental benefits that outweigh the associated adverse effects.”
“…Removing the four developments as proposed by the Renewal Corporation would result in significant environmental benefits. For example, dam removal and restoration of natural flow conditions would significantly improve water quality and provide anadromous fish access to historical habitat upstream of Iron Gate Dam. This opened fish passage would increase the number of naturally produced salmon and steelhead and improve the resiliency of these populations and other aquatic resources. Dam removal would also have beneficial effects on riverine recreation, the scenic landscape, tourism, income from commercial fishing, subsistence fishing, and ocean and in-river sport.”
HISTORICAL CONTEXT FOR DAM REMOVAL
In February 2010, PacifiCorp and 47 other parties, including the States of Oregon and California and the U.S. Department of the Interior (Interior), executed the Klamath Hydroelectric Settlement Agreement (Settlement Agreement), which provided for decommissioning and removing the J.C. Boyle, Copco No. 1, Copco No. 2, and Iron Gate developments, contingent on the passage of federal legislation and approval by the Secretary of the Interior. However, the necessary legislation was never passed.
Subsequently, in April 2016, the States of Oregon and California, Interior, PacifiCorp, NMFS, the Yurok Tribe, and the Karuk Tribe executed the Amended Klamath Hydroelectric Settlement Agreement (Amended Settlement Agreement), which Sustainable Northwest is a signatory. The Amended Settlement Agreement set forth a process by which PacifiCorp would request Commission approval to transfer the four lower developments to the Renewal Corporation, which would then seek Commission approval to decommission
BENEFITS OF DAM REMOVAL
Removal of four dams on the Klamath River is a historic undertaking that will result in myriad benefits to aquatic species and communities throughout the Basin.
Dam removal will:
Recover threatened, and endangered salmon runs. The Klamath once saw over a million salmon and steelhead return each year. In recent years runs have been less than 5% of that historical abundance.
Alleviate toxic water conditions. With these dams in place, nutrient-rich waters of the volcanic upper Klamath Basin flow into warm, stagnant reservoirs. These reservoirs are the perfect breeding ground for Microcystis aeruginosa and other toxic algae species.
Improve human health. Dams kill fish and degrade water quality which in turn impacts human health. Karuk, Yurok, Hoopa, and other Tribes in the Klamath Basin have subsisted on salmon and other Klamath fishes since time immemorial. A lack of fish has led to a radical change in diet for Tribal People, contributing to dramatic increases in diabetes, heart disease, and obesity.
Protect and restore Tribal cultures. Fish is an integral part of the cultural identity of the Klamath Basin Tribes. Catching fish, cooking fish, and preserving fish for the winter are all community activities practiced in the Klamath for millennia. For Tribes, a loss of fish is a loss of culture, and polluted river waters have made it challenging for Tribal members to perform traditional ceremonies.
Save taxpayers money. The federal license to operate the dams has expired. The California and Oregon Public Utility Commissions have determined that dam removal will lead to cheaper energy costs for PacifiCorp customers than relicensing the dams.
“What’s good for fish is actually good for farms. Taking out the dams will help alleviate regulatory burdens currently affecting agricultural producers. Dam removal will ultimately benefit fish, people, and agriculture and will help the Basin heal.”
- Kelley Delpit, third-generation rancher in the Klamath Basin
NEXT STEPS
KRRC has contracted with Kiewit Infrastructure West to deconstruct the dams and Resource Environmental Solutions (RES) to restore the reservoir footprints. Dam removal activities will begin in early 2023, with Copco 2 removal scheduled for summer 2023 and the remaining three dam removals slated for 2024. Restoration activities will continue for another 3-5 years, depending on permit requirements and other factors.
Sustainable Northwest applauds FERC for completing a comprehensive review of removing the lower Klamath River Dams.
We would not be here today without the leadership, advocacy, and relentless persistence of the Yurok Tribe and the Karuk Tribe. We applaud their ceaseless efforts and join in celebrating with Tribal and other partners who helped achieve this historic milestone.
Lee Lane Rahr
Director of Programs
lrahr@sustainablenorthwest.org
