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Exceptional news on Klamath Dam removal. Largest dam removal project in the world. If the Elwha River restoration is any guide, this will be awesome to behold. https://kval.com/news/local/tribes-states-pacificorp-sign-pact-to-remove-4-dams-from-klamath-river
And it so happens that I'm on an American Rivers Klamath River Restoration briefing presentation right now. Timely!
The Klamath River was one of the largest salmon fisheries in the world before these dams went in. No fish passage here.
The Klamath River was one of the largest salmon fisheries in the world before these dams went in. No fish passage here.
The most ambitious salmon restoration project in history. Removal and restoration will be visible from space. 420 miles of river habitat have been cut off for 100 years. JC Boyle has a fish ladder, but it's outdated and fails federal standards.
Marginal power production, worse economics -- and that's without having to deal with horrid water quality and allowing fish passage.
Dam removal will follow the Penobscot restoration where a separate entity (KRRC in this case) manages the removal, and PAC limits liability.
Dam removal will follow the Penobscot restoration where a separate entity (KRRC in this case) manages the removal, and PAC limits liability.
FERC required PAC stay as a co-licensee which threatened the entire deal. That's why today's announcement is so important. CA and OR will apply to FERC to join the KRRC as co-licensee to assume liability. Unprecedented leadership. Love seeing state capacity used this way.
Two FERC filings: license to remove the dams (submitted today) and application to add CA and to the license (filing forthcoming). All FERC all the time over here.
Dam removal is growing, increasing attention in CA, where the most progress can be made.
Next up: Dan Reicher from Stanford Woods Institute talking about the future of hydro in the age of climate change. https://news.stanford.edu/2020/10/13/new-agreement-u-s-hydropower-river-conservation/
Interesting stakeholder evolution on this issue. Hydro power industry has recognized it has to be open to dam removal, while conservation communities recognized that climate impacts could swamp any conservation efforts.
Federally recognized dams: 90,000+
2% are primarily power producing.
2% are primarily power producing.
The future of hydro:
Add turbines to unpowered dams
Upgrade production from existing dams
Modern off-river pumped storage
New dams
Add turbines to unpowered dams Upgrade production from existing dams Modern off-river pumped storage New dams
X-axis misdemeanor aside, this is the type of result you like to see (from the Penobscot river restoration/dam removal effort).
Million dollar question: What does Klamath dam removal mean for the Lower Snake?
A: Very different dams (ownership + services provided). Need to think creatively, as happened (eventually) with Klamath, and leadership stepped up.
A: Very different dams (ownership + services provided). Need to think creatively, as happened (eventually) with Klamath, and leadership stepped up.
