A series of four dams on the Klamath River (originally licensed as FERC P-2082 and then as FERC P-14803) operated by PacifiCorp devastated salmon populations on what was one of the nation's most productive salmon rivers. These dams produced very little power, relative to their environmental impacts, and were long candidates for removal.
Removing the dams, an action American Whitewater actively supported, has opened up opportunities for new day trips on sections of river that were inundated by reservoirs or dewatered by hydropower operations, while creating an opportunity for a multi-day whitewater trip on the Klamath River. In addition, the dam removal significantly improved water quality. American Whitewater successfully secured provisions to develop a plan for public access to the river following dam removal and advocated for retention of publicly accessible real-time flow information. In addition to these recreational interests, we also represented our interest in the health of salmon and steelhead populations of the Klamath River.
The Klamath River attempted to meet the needs of multiple interests including but not limited to recreation, power generation, fish and wildlife, cultural, municipal water supply, and agriculture. The competing interests warranted systematic evaluation of each facility individually, the hydropower project holistically, and the river on a local, regional and global scale, to determine the proper balance of water allocation and alternatives for respective uses in accordance with the best interests of society. As active participants in this dialogue over two decades (1999-2024), American Whitewater strongly supported dam removal of J.C. Boyle Dam, Copco 1 Dam, Copco 2 Dam, and Iron Gate Dam as the preferred action to restore the river. The loss of enhanced mid-day summer flows on the Hell's Corner reach has impacted the historic opportunities for whitewater recreation that existed in late summer on Hells Corner but dam removal has opened up new opportunities and improves overall health of the river. As part of a the dam removal project, American Whitewater secured appropriate mitigation to ensure the public has the opportunity to experience and enjoy a restored river through development of river access and recreational infrastructure that respects fishery resources and cultural sites.
Removal Schedule
On November 17th, 2022 the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued a formal order approving surrender of the license for the Lower Klamath Hydroelectric Project and Removal of Project facilities. This was the last major regulatory step that will now allow dam removal to proceed.
This order is consistent with the previously issued (June 17th, 2021) order of transfer of the Lower Klamath Hydroelectric Project from PacifiCorp to the Klamath River Renewal Corporation and the states of Oregon and California and the published schedule for environmental review as follows:
Major Milestone: Target Date
Scoping Meetings: July 2021
Scoping Comments of American Whitewater, Submitted August 19, 2021
Draft EIS: Issued February 25, 2022
Draft EIS Comments of American Whitewater, Submitted April 18, 2022
Final EIS and Completion of Environmental Review: Issued August 26, 2022
Final Decision: Issued November 17, 2022
Ownership of the dams was transferred from PacifiCorp to Klamath River Renewal Corporation and the states of Oregon and California in December 2022. Project mobilization got underway early in 2023. Removal of Copco 2 Dam began in June 2023 and was completed within weeks. Trees that had grown up in the active river channel, an unnatural condition due to the Wards Canyon segment of the river being dewatered for the past century, were also removed. In addition rock fall at Sidecast Slide in the Big Bend Reach, an unnatural feature in the river that has impeded fish passage and is a hazard to navigation resulting from blast rock from construction of the power canal, was addressed. Regarding the flows rates from the existing JC Boyle Powerhouse that provide flows for Hells Corner, the Bureau of Reclamation dictates the flows and hydropower project regulates the actual release of water. The flows are based on storm events, time of year, and power generation. JC Boyle dam operations continued through December 2023 when the project was shut down. The summer of 2023 was the last summer to fully experience Hells Corner with elevated hydropower releases in mid-summer. The FERC Order stipulated that the Klamath River Renewal Corporation must consult with American Whitewater and outfitters to schedule construction activities and access restrictions to minimize adverse effects on whitewater boaters.
The removal of J.C. Boyle Dam, Copco 1, and Iron Gate Dams occurred in 2024 with a free-flowing condition and fish passage restored in August 2024. Construction of facilities to access the restored river is underway with access sites at Pioneer Park (near the Highway 66 Bridge), Moonshine Falls (near the present site of J.C. Boyle Dam), Copco Valley (in the current footprint of Wards Canyon upstream of the. entrance to Wards Canyon), and Iron Gate (on river right on the footprint of the current administrative facilities associated with the hydroelectric project). American Whitewater served in a leadership capacity to identify appropriate sites for the public to access and experience a restored river. All dam removal activities will be completed by 11/1/2024. Our goal is for the public to be able to experience a restored river in 2025.
A Sample of American Whitewater Filings
American Whitewater was initially engaged in the relicensing of the hydropower projects on the Klamath River, an effort that transitioned to a dam removal campaign through the leadership of Tribes and our conservation partners. Through the process we have filed several comments on the docket (P-2082 and P-14803).