PacifiCorp Completes Largest Dam Removal Project on Klamath River
What happened
PacifiCorp completed a major infrastructure project involving the surrender of its federal hydroelectric license and the staged removal of four dams on the Klamath River. The process included the removal of Copco No. 2 in 2023, followed by J.C. Boyle, Copco No. 1, and Iron Gate in 2024. After the work was declared complete, sonar detected Chinook salmon passing the former Iron Gate site on October 2, 2024.
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Why it matters
The roughly $500 million undertaking is cited as the largest dam removal project completed in the United States. The removal successfully reconnected the main river with tributaries, making an estimated 420 miles of salmon habitat accessible in the Klamath River system.
From spacewar.com
Who's involved
- PacifiCorpElectric power company responsible for the license surrender and dam removal project.
- Iron GateThe specific dam location that was part of the larger Klamath River system.
- Klamath RiverThe river system that benefited from the restored connectivity and salmon runs.
Who could feel it
Possible knock-on effectsThese are possibilities Brind reasoned out, not predictions, and not advice. Most are not stated in any report.
- PacifiCorpSpeculative
PacifiCorp may face long-term operational shifts following the surrender of its federal license and decommissioning of major assets.
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The entities involved
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PacifiCorp
electric power company in the western United States
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Iron Gate
Defile in Central Asia
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