The largest dam removal project in the nation’s history was officially completed today, marking the end of an era and a new beginning for the Klamath River, now flowing wild for the first time in a century after being released from the chokeholds of the Copco No. 1, Copco No. 2, J.C. Boyle and Iron […]
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Saving Salmon: Newsom Unveils Blueprint for Ending Decades-long Decline
With salmon populations throughout California declining for decades and facing the threat of extinction, Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday unveiled a state strategy aimed at protecting and restoring the iconic species “amidst hotter and drier weather exacerbated by climate change.” The blueprint calls for tearing down dams and improving passages for migrating salmon, restoring flows […]
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Klamath Dam Removal: Copco 2 is Coming Down
Progress is being made on the removal of Copco 2, the smallest and first of the four dams being dismantled on the Klamath River after choking the waterway’s flows for more than a century. According to a news release, crews this week “removed the gates, walkway and two of the five bays down to the […]
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Salmon Season Closure: Huffman, Pelosi Pledge to Work to Fast Track Federal Aid, Cite Need for Long-Term Solutions
North Coast Congressmember Jared Huffman joined other officials today in pledging to work for the expedited release of federal dollars to help those impacted by the all-but-certain closure of the 2023 salmon season due to what’s forecasted to be near record-low returns of Chinook to the Klamath and Sacramento rivers. “We can’t afford to wait […]
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NCJ Preview: Potter Plans, Measure S, Masks and Analog Art
PG&E changes course to continue operating the Potter Valley hydroelectric dams, which divert water from the Russian River, instead of shutting down as previously stated — we’re looking at what this means for the salmon, the stakeholders, water rights and the “two-basin solution.” We’ve also got an update on Measure S as the Board of […]
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Interior Secretary Pens Letter Supporting Klamath Dam Removal
Interior Secretary Deb Haaland released a letter today to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in support of Klamath dam removal. “Dam removal will restore salmonid fisheries, reestablish fish passage, improve water quality and bring new recreation and economic opportunities to the Basin,” Haaland, the nation’s first Native Interior Secretary, wrote. “Moreover, removal will advance the […]
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Huffman Votes in Favor of Water Resources Legislation
North Coast Congressmember Jared Huffman voted today in favor of the bipartisan Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2020, which includes key North Coast and environmental priorities authored by Rep. Huffman. The legislation includes numerous provisions Rep. Huffman advocated for including increasing the set-aside for smaller “emerging ports” from 10 percent of the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund to 15 […]
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Huffman to Warren Buffett: ‘Do the Right Thing’ on Klamath Dams
North Coast Congressmember Jared Huffman jointed two of his colleagues today in sending a letter to one of the world’s richest people urging him to move forward an agreement to remove four hydroelectric dams from the ailing Klamath River. The letter comes as the hard fought agreement reached in 2016 to complete what would be […]
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Steps Made to Protect the Klamath Spring Run Chinook
A first step in protecting Klamath–Trinity spring run Chinook as a separate species took place this week with the California Fish and Game Commission making the fish a candidate for an endangered species listing in the state. According to a release from the Karuk Tribe and the Salmon River Restoration Council, a final decision will […]
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‘Definite Plan’ for Klamath Dam Removals Filed
The “definite plan” for removing four dams from the Klamath River has been filed with the Federal Regulatory Energy Commission, providing a detailed blue print for how the largest river restoration project in U.S. history will unfold. “We have completed a major milestone through the development and filing of this plan,” said Mark Bransom, executive […]
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Federal Court Rules in Favor of Salmon
A U.S. District Court judge has sided with those trying to protect coho salmon in the Klamath River, ruling yesterday that the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and the National Marine Fisheries Service must release more water from the Klamath dams. The release of the water is intended to mitigate the death of coho from a […]
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Feds, States Ink Historic Klamath Agreements
Under a cloudless blue sky and with the water of the Klamath River glistening in the sun behind them, a host of federal, state and tribal officials gathered around a fish cleaning table this morning to sign a pair of agreements to remove four dams and chart a new path forward for communities from the […]