RETURN TO RESILIENCE
The Klamath River: Deadbeat dams to be removed
The Klamath River was once renowned among anglers for
its steelhead. And since time immemorial, native tribes have depended on its abundant salmon and other native fish.
Iron Gate (Klamath), Dwinnell (Shasta), and Lewiston (Trinity) dams block access to a majority (970 km or about 600 mi) of historical spawning habitat for spring-run Chinook.
Recovery of salmonid populations will be significantly aided by removing four dams on the Klamath River (Iron Gate, Copco 1, Copco 2, and JC Boyle) and opening up fish passage to over 400 miles of potential spawning and rearing habitat. Slated to take place in 2020, the dam removal will amount to one of the largest river restoration efforts in the nation.
The Potter Valley Project: Letting science guide
the way
The Eel River, which originates in Lake and Mendocino counties and flows through Humboldt County to the ocean, supports spawning populations of fall run Chinook salmon, summer and winter run steelhead, and
coho salmon.
CalTrout has been studying the potential spawning and rearing habitat above Lake Pillsbury should salmon and steelhead
be provided access to the waters above Scott Dam.
We have been playing an active role during the comment phase of the relicensing period by providing scientific data about stream flows and fish passage. Our goal is to help advise whether PG&E should consider any alterations to how they operate their dams, taking into account the needs of fish, irrigation uses, and hydropower generation.