First Dam Breached!
Copco 2 dam has tamed a reach of the Klamath River since 1925, that is until last week. It was the first dam breached as Klamath restoration activities got underway in earnest. It was an exciting moment for thousands of Klamath Basin community members who participated in a two decade long campaign to Un-dam the Klamath and Bring the Salmon Home. Today we lead with coverage of this historic moment. Still, some folks are less than enthusiastic about dam removal. OPB offers the views of residents along the reservoirs who are trying to adjust to big changes in their community. Other stories cover the latest efforts to collaborate with Scott Basin water users on restoration projects even as others press agencies for stronger protections for in-stream flows. "In case you missed it" features a great video news piece from VOA that does a great job telling the story of Klamath dam removal beginning with the 2002 fish kill. Highly recommended!
News
An ’emotional’ moment: Demolition of first Klamath River dam begins – Times-Standard
Demolition began this week on the smallest dam on the Klamath River, Copco No. 2 in Oregon. Crews have removed gates, a walkway and two of five bays down to the spillway.
6 things You Need To Know About The Klamath River Dam Removals
For nearly 100 years, dams on the Klamath River have blocked salmon and steelhead from reaching more than 400 miles of habitat, encroached on indigenous culture, and harmed water quality for people and wildlife. The time has finally come for the four dams – J.C. Boyle, Copco No. 1, Copco No. 2, and Iron Gate – […]
Dam Removal project will restore Klamath River | Waterwatch | kdrv.com
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – While the largest dam removal project in history aims to restore the Klamath River, experts say it will also have a positive impact on the rest of the Klamath Basin.
Paradise lost? Copco Lake residents brace for dam removal | Jefferson Public Radio
The impending removal of four hydroelectric dams on the main stem of the Klamath River has thrown the normally tranquil community of Copco Lake into turmoil.
California will consider setting minimum water flows for Scott River – Times-Standard
On Monday, the California State Water Resources Control Board scheduled a public hearing to consider setting permanent minimum water flows for Scott River.
Yurok Tribe Signs MOU Benefiting Salmon - Indian Gaming
KLAMATH, CA – The Yurok Tribe, CalTrout and Farmers Ditch Company have signed an agreement that envisions a future where salmon populations and family farms both flourish in the Scott River Valley.
PacifiCorp found negligent in Oregon wildfires - Portland Business Journal
A Multnomah County Circuit Court jury Monday morning found PacifiCorp grossly negligent in four Labor Day 2020 fires that struck Oregon and awarded damages totaling more than $71 million to 17 named plaintiffs in a class-action lawsuit.
Hoopa Valley Tribe to buy 10,300 acres in the Klamath River watershed – Times-Standard
A purchase sale agreement is in place for the Hoopa Valley Tribe to buy 10,300 acres in the Klamath River watershed. The project is part of the Tribe’s overall plan to reclaim ancestral territories…
Yurok Tribe collects 500 square miles of lidar data | News | triplicate.com
The Yurok Tribe received a contract from U.S. Geological Survey - 3D Elevation Program to collect and process 320,000 acres of lidar data on biologically diverse forests and salmon-bearing streams in Yurok ancestral territory.
In Case You Missed It...
The Inside Story | Undamming the Klamath - YouTube
Native American communities in the Pacific Northwest have led a decades long fight to remove hydroelectric dams that environmentalists say harm the migration...