After Dam Removal: How will River Flows be Managed?

While larger media outlets remain focused on dam removal, Klamath communities are starting to consider the next big question: How will we manage Klamath River flows in the future? The Klamath River flows out of Upper Klamath Lake. While a natural lake, the Bureau of Reclamation blasted the natural rock reef at the outflow of the lake and constructed a dam there in 1921 to control outflow and divert water for irrigation. Hydropower dams were built downstream of Upper Klamath Lake in the years that followed, and the flow of the Klamath River was controlled by Iron Gate dam releases for the past 60 years. With Iron Gate, Copco 1and JC Boyle slated for removal next year, Link River dam releases will directly control Klamath River flows. In recent years, drought has made it impossible for the Bureau to balance the needs of ESA listed suckers in the lake and ESA listed salmon in the river while providing water to irrigators. Never mind keeping the nation's oldest wildlife refuges wet. This led to challenges of the Bureau's authority by some irrigators. Now a federal judge has ruled that endangered fish come first when determining water allocations and that the Bureau controls the water. But the future remains clouded. In order for Klamath River restoration to be successful, flows must be carefully balanced between the lake, the river, the refuges, and irrigators. How that will be achieved is yet to be determined! In other news, California Water Board is regulating some water users for the first time, and in case you missed it, some encouraging science on just how effective dam removal is for restoring a river. Enjoy!