As the Klamath Dam Removal Project—the largest in the nation’s history—nears completion, reaction to the aftermath has been mixed, ranging from celebration to devastation.
Proponents are celebrating the four dam removals after their decades-long battle to restore the free-flowing river, while other residents and property owners say the destruction of the dams and loss of the manmade lakes is crippling tourism and recreation activities as well as hurting wildlife and increasing wildfire risks.Environmental nonprofit groups and local Native American tribes have pushed for decades to demolish the dams along the Klamath River, saying they damaged the ecology of the river and blocked upstream spawning habitat, causing a decline in salmon populations.
The project is intended to "improve the habitat and health of fisheries by allowing salmon, steelhead, and lamprey access to over 400 stream-miles of historic spawning habitat upstream of the dams," prevent stagnant reservoirs from increasing water temperatures in the summer, and help alleviate poor habitat conditions that contribute to algae growth and fish diseases, according to KRRC.
The demolition of the four dams—John C. Boyle, Copco 1, Copco 2, and Iron Gate—which were built between 1911 and 1962, is expected to be complete by late August.
Lengthy article, with many lovely photographs at the link.