Fire Returns to Klamath Basin
The Klamath Basin was blessed by a wetter than average winter and a mild spring. While this weather pattern delayed fire season, the fires have now arrived. Since mid-August, a series of lighting storms have ignited dozens of fires leading to evacuations around Happy Camp, Orleans, and Gasquet and at least one fatality. Fires along the Smith River have led to several days of power outages in Del Norte county.. However, folks nearest the action report that, so far, these fires are not as catastrophic as those in recent years owing to relatively cool and wet weather conditions. The fires are affecting travel in the area with many closures and delays along Highway 96 and 199. Our friends at EPIC has a great Community resources page including links to organizations accepting donations to support fire victims.
In other news, Karuk, ELF, and PCFFA advanced calls for regulated flows in the Scott and Shasta Rivers, the Yurok Salmon Festival was covered by CNN, last ditch attempts to block dam removal were thrown out of court, and much more. In case you missed it, we include a link to the LAist's recent podcast The Big Burn which offers a great explanation of the current fire crisis and what we must do now to cope with it.
This week's beautiful introductory photo of a smoke filtered sunset over the Salmon/Klamath confluence was kindly provided by Aja Conrad.
Please stay safe out there!
News
Video: Salmon festival's main attraction won't appear this year. Here's why | CNN
A California salmon festival is unable to serve the fish this year due to dwindling supplies caused by human activity. CNN's Nick Watt reports.
Happy Camp Complex Fires at 18,483 acres, 23% containment | Fire Watch | actionnewsnow.com
KLAMATH NATIONAL FOREST, Calif. Aug. 27 9:44 A.M. UPDATE - The Happy Camp Complex has burned 18,483 acres and is 23% contained, according to forest service officials.
Officials also said a southwest wind helped blow the fire front back into the already burned area, but a hot and dry weather pattern has increased fire behavior for most fires within the complex.
New art exhibit displays devastating effects of 2002 Klamath River fish kill, declining salmon population | KRCR
A new exhibit at the Morris Graves Museum of Art in Eureka aims to provide a visualization of the devastating Fish Kill of 2002, as well as a celebration of the
Suit Challenging Klamath River Dam Demolitions Gets Tossed Out
A challenge to the demolition of hydroelectric dams on the Klamath River was tossed by a federal court for lack of jurisdiction.
Podcast on restoring the Klamath River Basin | NOAA Fisheries
How the restoration of the Klamath watershed, the largest dam removal project in the world, will reopen access to habitat for the threatened and endangered native fish of the area.
'If You Unbuild It, They Will Come' - Water Education Foundation
Scientists Chart Transformation of Klamath River and Its Salmon Amid Nation’s Largest Dam Removal Project
Minimum flows set for Scott River in state Water Board meeting – Times-Standard
Last week, the State Water Board heard a petition to retain minimum water flows for the Scott River, a key Klamath tributary. The petition was brought by the Karuk Tribe, the Pacific Coast Federati…
Klamath River Tributary Restoration Gives Salmon A Chance Before – and After – Dam Removal | California Trout
On the South Fork of the Scott River, a tributary to the Klamath, CalTrout and partners are beginning the fourth phase of a restoration project to reconnect the stream to its natural floodplain and improve cold water rearing habitat for Klamath Basin fish.
In Case You Missed It...
The Big Burn: How To Survive the Age of Wildfires | LAist
As the world enters a new age of wildfires, science reporter Jacob Margolis dives deep into personal stories that illuminate the history of how we got here, why we keep screwing things up, and what we can do to survive and maybe even thrive while the world around us burns.
