| Planning & projects
when exposed to consistent river flows, would have died and created a hazard for future recreationists. These were removed in September 2023 in collaboration with local tribes. “Seeing the Klamath River flow through this canyon
after being diverted for nearly a century is inspiring,” Laura Hazlett, COO of KRRC said at the time. “It makes me excited for everything else that is to come with the removal of the other three dams.”
Drawdown The remaining three dams, Copco No. 1, Iron Gate, and
JC Boyle created reservoirs that needed to be drawn down before removal could begin. The initial phase of drawdown was recently concluded in February 2024 and shortly thereafter FERC approved an advancement in the schedule, allowing for removal of Copco No. 1 ahead of the other remaining dams. With the reservoirs emptied, the Klamath River now winds its way through the former reservoir footprints, cutting though a century of accumulated sediment and finding its historical path. Extensive testing of the sediment that had accumulated behind the dams revealed that it is predominantly dead algae and is not a concern for human health. “Seeing the river re-emerge is inspiring,” KRCC’s Mark Bransom said. “The Klamath is now reconnected for the first time in a century. While we are in the very earliest stages of restoring this important waterway, we can envision a bright future for what was once the third most productive salmon bearing river on the West Coast of the lower 48 US states.” As the reservoir footprints began to recede,
restoration crews swiftly went to work sowing millions
www.waterpowermagazine.com | April 2024 | 33
of seeds from scores of native plants. While the waters have drained and the Klamath River has returned to baseline flows, the reservoirs have the potential to partially refill due to spring run-off. Replanting the 2200 acres of exposed reservoir area is being carried out in collaboration with the Yurok Tribe and is a key part of the plan to stabilise the soil and control erosion as the river re-establishes itself. This restoration work will continue for several years until vegetation is successfully established and water clarity has returned to baseline conditions. During the entire drawdown process, which
is expected to take several months, around five million cubic yards of sediment is expected to go downstream, causing water quality impacts for a limited duration. That is why this time of year
Clockwise from top left: Back view of Copco No 1 Dam; Copco No.1 Dam (photograph by Shane Anderson of Swiftwater Films); Copco reservoir drawdown (photograph by Jason Hartwick of Swiftwater Films); drawdown at Iron Gate Dam
Below: Iron Gate Dam. Credit: Michael Wier, CalTrout
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