Massive Explosions Used to Reclaim Wetlands on Klamath Lake

By Tom Chandler on Oct 30, 2007 in Environment

Dirt-throwing explosions on a massive scale? Wetlands restoration? These are a few of our favorite things, especially when the explosions reclaim wetlands area on the Upper Klamath Lake , where farmers and fisheries folks continue the fight over water. And happily, it looks like everyone’s the winner here (and tell me this doesn’t sound like big-time fun):

The Nature Conservancy aims to restore almost 5 square miles of marsh in an area vital to two rare fish species. Crews will set off 100 tons of explosives buried in four half-mile sections of dikes.

Water from the lake then will rush through the gaps to flood wetlands lost 50 years ago when the Williamson River delta was drained for farming. The conservancy has bought the croplands and removed them from production.

The explosions, in four bursts over five minutes, will throw soil 150 feet up and 300 feet out, says Mark Stern, director of the conservancy’s Upper Klamath conservation program.

“It’s not going to be this big volcanic explosion, but you will feel the earth move a little bit,” Stern says. He says loud booms will go off before the actual explosions to scare away fish and other wildlife.

Those Nature Conservancy guys get to have all the fun. Damn.

See you at the dynamite shoppe, Tom Chandler.

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Source:  http://troutunderground.com/2007/10/30/massive-explosions-used-to-

reclaim-wetlands-on-klamath-lake/