Klamath Restoration Agreements

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Sediment Studies Conclude that Dam Removal is Safe and Affordable

California coastal commission (CCC) analysis is most comprehensive study of sediment behind the dams to date.       

After completing its sediment analysis, the California Coastal Conservancy wrote in a letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission: “the Conservancy has concluded that removal of the four lowermost dams on the Klamath River, Iron Gate, Copco II, Copco I, and J.C. Boyle is feasible, affordable under a variety of scenarios, and necessary for the recovery of Pacific Salmon, a vitally important coastal resource of great interest to the Conservancy, to the State of California, to sovereign tribes, and to the nation.”

Specific findings of the CCC include:
  • the toxicity of the sediment in the four lowermost reservoirs is low, and will not affect the method or cost of dam decommissioning;
  • downstream erosion of sediment is a feasible method of sediment management under a dam removal scenario;
  • less than four million cubic yards of fine sediment would erode downstream to the marine environment in the event of decommissioning;
  • the duration of sediment transport can be compressed to a period ranging from 1-4 months, thereby avoiding or diminishing adverse effects associated with substantial sediment transport;
  • sediment transport below Iron Gate, even under the most conservative estimates, would not cause flooding downstream.

All preliminary studies of sediment from behind Klamath Dams reveal no biologically significant toxic contaminants.

Another study by Camp Dresser & McKee Inc.is often cited by dam removal critics. Referred to as the CDM Report, it suggests that the high cost of sediment removal would push dam removal into the billions of dollars. However, the CDM Study fails to acknowledge the results of many of the aforementioned studies. In addition the CDM report assumes that sediment removal will be mandated by the California North-coast Regional Water Quality Control Board because the Klamath is listed as "impaired" by sediment. According to Water Board staff, this is an unfounded assumption as exemptions for restoration activities are common-place.

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(Thanks to American Rivers for providing links!)

 



Did You Know?

Water Shut-off Highlights Need for Klamath Agreements

Karuk Tribe

P R E S S  R E L E A S E

For Immediate Release: March 18, 2010

For more information: Craig Tucker, Klamath Coordinator, Karuk Tribe, cell 916-207-8294

 

Drought Highlights Need for Klamath Agreements

Fish and Farms would be better off today if the Klamath Restoration Agreements where already in place

 Orleans, CA – Today Secretary of Interior Salazaar addressed the current drought situation in the Klamath Basin by breaking the hard news to irrigators that water deliveries will be reduced to 30-40% of average. Before agricultural deliveries can be made, the Bureau of Reclamation must first ensure that the water level in Upper Klamath Lake and the flows in the Klamath River meet minimal requirements to allow for the survival of ESA listed suckers and coho salmon.

 “It’s a difficult year for everyone. Even though irrigation deliveries are being dramatically cut, the water fish are getting only meets the minimal amount needed to avoid extinction. It’s barely enough water to keep the fishery on life support,” according to Leaf Hillman, Director of Karuk Natural Resources Department.

 The current situation is due in large part to a lack of precipitation, but if fisheries managers had the flexibility to manage the system in the manner prescribed by the recently signed Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement, more water would be available for fish in the crucial spring months ahead and more water would be available for agriculture as well.

 The current management plan prescribes winter flows in the river without considering weather events in real time. In a dry winter like this one, the result is that flows are held steady even in the face of deteriorating hydrologic conditions. Under Real Time Management, flows would have been pared back to better reflect the weather conditions in real time. This approach would have allowed resource managers to provide more water to the river in the spring when fish need it most, left more water in Upper Klamath Lake for suckers, and more management flexibility in meeting irrigation needs.

 According to Hillman, “We basically ran up a water deficit this winter gambling that a late season storm would bail us out, but the rains never came. Implementation of the Klamath Restoration Agreement would provide a more sound approach to water management.”

 In addition, the Real Time Management Plan called for by the KBRA would restore some of the Klamath’s natural hydrograph. This means river flows would be greater during storm events and less during dry periods. Current management calls for flat line flows out of Iron Gate Dam which is bad for fish. “Flat line flows contribute to the algae and fish disease problems on the Klamath by creating a stable environment for algae and disease carrying parasites to flourish. If we mimicked the river’s natural flow pattern with normal flow variability, it would help these problems greatly,” according to Karuk Senior Fisheries Biologist Toz Soto.

 Tribes are offering to support disaster relief measures to help farm families through the season. “Hopefully, we can get the Klamath Restoration Agreements enacted by congress this year and avoid a crisis like this in the future. Until then, Tribal and fishing communities will need to support our neighbors in farming and ranching as they brace for a year of economic hardship,” said Hillman.

 

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Technical memo describing how KBRA management would have helped address this year’s drought