Klamath Dams

On April 06, 2016, two new agreements were signed to replace the Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement and Klamath Hydroelectric Settlement Agreement, which both expired in December 2015.  The amended Klamath Hydroelectric Settlement Agreement (KHSA) and Klamath Power and Facilities Agreement, both found under Supporting Documents below, outline plans to transfer ownership of the four Lower Klamath River dams to the newly formed non-profit, Klamath River Renewal Corporation and requests that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approve removal of these dams by 2020. These documents, along with required applications, were submitted to FERC in September 2016, and are still at the review process. The public can stay up to date on the progress by Ferc Online link.

As a result of the applications filed to FERC, the California Water Resources Control Board (Water Board) initiated a Notice of Preparation and Scoping Meetings for an Environmental Impact Report for the Lower Klamath Project License Surrender, linked in Supporting Documents below, with initial comments due February 01, 2017. There will be further developments from the Water Board, and more opportunities for the public to comment. The Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors provided verbal and written statements at the Water Board's January 26 meeting in Yreka, and submitted detailed written comments to the Water Board both of which are linked below.

Siskiyou County will continue to stay active in these issues, including requiring that the responsible agencies perform complete analysis of all consequences that would result from potential dam removal, and will continue to provide information and support alternatives to removal of the four Lower Klamath River dams.