Siskiyou County, Calif. - A slew of
reports concerning the potential removal of four dams
along the Klamath River have been released for public
viewing by American Rivers, including studies on
economic impacts, engineering and technical aspects of
dam removal, effects on aquatic life, a 2007 Federal
Energy Regulatory Committee (FERC) Final Environmental
Impact Statement, effects of sediment transport, water
quality and others.
One report, concerning the presence of cyanotoxins in
the water downstream from the Copco 1 and Iron Gate
reservoirs, states, “Some of the highest levels of
microcystin ever recorded in the world were measured
from Copco Cove in Copco reservoir.” The report is aimed
at verifying the Klamath’s designation as an impaired
river by the Clean Water Act standards.
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Dam reports available to public
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| By Courtesy of the Federal Energy Regulatory Committee Removal of the Klamath dams would affect regions in both Siskiyou County and southeastern Oregon. |
Siskiyou Daily News
February 2, 2009
The report, compiled by the State Water Board, details a series of tests of Klamath system mussels, perch and salmon for cyanotoxins, which are recognized as dangerous to humans and some animals. Using a variety of testing locations and samples, the water board researchers concluded that variations exist along the river system, namely, microcystin in yellow perch is higher in Copco reservoir than Iron Gate, and the concentrations in yellow perch and mussels is significantly higher in the summer than any other time of the year.
The issue of cyanotoxins and blue-green algae in the Klamath has been addressed in the past, and studies suggest that PacifiCorp, if the dams are to be relicensed, will have to add measures to the dams which will reduce or eliminate the presence of the algae in order to have them relicensed.
The list of reports also contains a FERC estimate of the costs of dam removal, using heavy construction materials data from 2007 and using original construction reports to determine the amount of material in each dam.
The cost estimates do not include the salvage value of materials that could offset the cost of removal and assume that sediment release will be done in a manner that does not require any additional funding. The report states, “If contaminated sediment is found, and is not suitable for downstream transport, the costs of dam removal would be substantially higher.”
The estimates are as follows:
• Decommissioning and removal of JC Boyle facilities-$18,911,000;
• Removal of contaminated sediment, if needed-2 to 7 million dollars;
• Decommissioning and removal of Copco 1 Dam-$20,368,000;
• Removal of contaminated sediment, if needed-955 million dollars to 2.9 billion dollars; and
• Decommission and removal of Copco 2 dam-$3,731,000.
The report concludes that there is unlikely enough sediment behind the dam to cause a problem; and Decommissioning and removal of Iron Gate dam-$36,853,000. Removal of contaminated sediment, if needed-485 million dollars to 1.5 billion dollars.
More reports will be detailed in future editions of the Siskiyou Daily News.
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