That's A Wrap: Removal Of Copco Dam #2 On Klamath River Completed

[hatrack]

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As someone who has been covering the movement by the Klamath River Tribes, fishermen and conservationists to remove the dams on the Klamath River for over 20 years, it is very gratifying to see the progress made on the removal of the four PacifiCorp dams this year. In a major step in the dam removal process, the Klamath River Renewal Corporation reported that crews have “put the final touches” on the removal of the Copco No. 2 Dam and its diversion infrastructure on the Klamath River this week.

This historic dam removal, when completed, will open the river above the dams to hundreds of miles of habitat for fall-run Chinook salmon, spring-run Chinook salmon, coho salmon, steelhead and Pacific lamprey. It is the largest and most significant dam removal project in U.S. history. “Removal of the dam structure was completed in September, and crews spent the last month removing the remaining diversion infrastructure, grading the river channel, and performing erosion control,” according to the KRRC in a statement. “This work prepares the river canyon for consistent river flows, likely commencing within 30 days, which the canyon hasn’t seen in 98 years. Currently, flows in the canyon are fluctuating due to work being done to prepare Copco No. 1 for drawdown.”

“Copco No 2 is the first dam to be removed due to its small stature, location, and lack of reservoir,” said Mark Bransom, CEO of the Klamath River Renewal Corporation (KRRC), the entity tasked with the safe and efficient removal of the four lower Klamath hydroelectric dams. “However, while Copco No. 2 was significantly smaller than the other dams slated for removal, it still had a significant impact on the river.” “Copco No. 2 was located right below Copco No. 1 in a steep river canyon, commonly known as Ward’s Canyon, named after Kitty Ward, a Shasta Woman who lived in the valley now submerged by the reservoir created by Copco No 1,’ noted Bransom.

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The remaining three dams, Copco No. 1, Iron Gate, and JC Boyle, are slated for removal in 2024. In January KRRC will implement drawdown, the slow draining of the reservoirs, which is expected to take 3-5 months, depending on the amount of water entering the system as a result of spring runoff, according to KRRC. “Once drawdown is complete, restoration and deconstruction activities will begin in earnest. All three dams are expected to be completely removed by November 2024, while restoration activities will continue for years to come to ensure restoration success,” KRRC concluded.

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https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/11/3/2203380/-Work-on-Copco-No-2-Dam-Removal-Comes-to-a-Close-on-the-Klamath-River?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=trending&pm_medium=web

[calimary]

1. EXCELLENT!!!

Let the river flow!

[chia]

2. That is fantastic!

[maxsolomon]

3. Great news.

Are the Ranchers still pulling out their hair over this in Klamath?

[1WorldHope]

4. Hallelujah! That is the best news I have heard all day!