The Klamath River Renewal Corporation (KRRC) today announced that it has filed its plan to remove four four dams on the Klamath River, a move that would open the long-blocked tributaries of the Upper Klamath Basin watershed to king salmon, coho salmon and steelhead migration.
The KRRC filed its “Definite Plan for the Lower Klamath Project” with the Federal Regulatory Energy Commission (FERC) for the proposed removal of four hydroelectric dams on the Klamath River – J.C. Boyle, Copco No. 1, Copco No. 2, and Iron Gate.
“This filing represents an important next step in KRRC’s effort to restore the Klamath River,” according to a statement from the KRRC. “KRRC’s dam removal and river restoration project, currently the largest dam removal project in U.S. history, is expected to improve water quality, revive fisheries, create local jobs, and boost tourism and recreation.”
The KRRC filed The “Definite Plan” on June 28 as part of its application to FERC for the transfer of the FERC license to operate the dams. FERC will review the Definite Plan to confirm KRRC has the technical, legal, and fiscal capacities to become the licensee.
The Definite Plan is an approximately 2,300-page document that provides comprehensive analysis and detail on project design, deconstruction, reservoir restoration, and other post-deconstruction activities.
KRRC also filed responses to FERC’s requests for additional information, including requests in FERC’s March 15, 2018 order, as a part of its regulatory review and approval process.
The many topics covered in the Definite Plan include KRRC’s plans to: manage construction impacts, manage impacts to groundwater wells, perform flood-proofing, improve roads and bridges, provide recreation opportunities, replace the City of Yreka water line, protect aquatic resources, and provide for ongoing fish hatchery operations. The plan also provides updated information on project costs and risk management.
“KRRC is confident these foundational documents will help FERC determine KRRC has the capabilities to assume license of the dams and to complete the dam removal process, which includes deconstruction of the dams and restoration of formerly inundated land,” KRRC stated.
“We have completed a major milestone through the development and filing of this plan,” said KRRC Executive Director, Mark Bransom. “KRRC has developed this plan with tremendous respect for the complexity of the project and with extraordinary care in its efforts to enhance benefits and minimize impacts to local communities. I am proud of this achievement and I look forward to the next steps in the regulatory review process.”
In May, FERC authorized KRRC to convene a panel of nationally recognized experts to serve as an Independent Board of Consultants (BOC) for the project. This panel brings expertise in dam construction and removal, engineering, aquatic and terrestrial biology, construction cost estimating, and risk management.
“During the coming months, FERC and the BOC will review and provide guidance on the Definite Plan. KRRC welcomes this feedback and will continue its planning and preparations in anticipation of a future decision by FERC on the transfer and surrender applications,” KRRC said.
“If KRRC receives all necessary approvals to begin work, it expects to begin site preparations in mid-2020, with dam removal and restoration activities commencing in 2021,” KRRC stated.
“The Klamath dams block salmon from entering hundreds of miles of habitat and are largely responsible for the dwindling fish stocks on the river,” according to the Yurok Tribe. “The antiquated structures create ideal condition for the proliferation of fish pathogens and the toxic blue-green algae, which plague the river every summer. The Yurok Tribe, as well as the other river tribes, environmental and commercial fishing groups have been working for more than a decade on the removal of the outdated facilities.”
A complete copy of the Definite Plan is available at klamathrenewal.org/definite-plan.
While the KRRC’s filing of the “Definite Plan” with FERC marks a major milestone in the Klamath Dam removal process, it must be pointed out that the Brown and Trump administrations are fast-tracking the construction of the Delta Tunnels, potentially the most environmentally destructive public works project in California history. The construction of the tunnels would not only devastate Sacramento River winter and spring Chinook salmon, Central Valley steelhead, Delta and long fin smelt, green sturgeon and other fish populations, but it would imperil the Chinook salmon, coho salmon and steelhead populations on the Trinity and Klamath rivers.