Project Manager: L. Kasey Sirkin; (707) 443-0855; l.k.sirkin@usace.army.mil
Availability of ROD: On November 21, 2022, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, San Francisco District (Corps) completed a Record of Decision (ROD) for the Clean Water Act Section 404 Clean Water Act (CWA 404) Permit for the Lower Klamath Dam Removal Project (Project), in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), as a NEPA cooperating agency on the Federal Regulatory Energy Commission (FERC) Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Project. The EIS was prepared by the FERC; the Corps contributed to the EIS in our area of expertise and jurisdiction under CWA 404. The FERC prepared the EIS to analyze the direct, indirect, and cumulative effects associated with an application for a license surrender and decommissioning of the four dam facilities under the Federal Power Act (FPA) and the Commission’s regulations at 18 Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.) § 6.1. More information about the Project can be found at the following link: https://klamathrenewal.org/.
The Corps’ ROD follows the issuance of a Final EIS by the FERC on August 26, 2022. A copy of the ROD can be found at the following link: https://elibrary.ferc.gov/eLibrary/filelist?accession_number=20220826-3006&optimized=false
Proposed Action: The Klamath River Renewal Corporation (KRRC) proposes removal of the Lower Klamath Project and restoration of a free-flowing condition and volitional fish passage, site remediation and restoration, and measures to avoid or minimize adverse downstream impacts. To create a free-flowing river to allow volitional fish passage, the Project includes the decommissioning of the J.C. Boyle Dam and Powerhouse, Copco No. 1 Dam and Powerhouse, Copco No. 2 Dam and Powerhouse, and Iron Gate Dam and Powerhouse, as well as associated features. Facility removal will be completed within an approximately 20-month period. In addition, the Fall Creek Hatchery and the City of Yreka water supply pipeline will be modified.
The Project’s primary activities to be performed in Waters of the U.S include dam and ancillary structure removal, temporary work pad and access road construction, temporary and permanent road/culvert/bridge upgrades, assisted sediment evacuation within the mainstem of the Klamath River and high-priority tributaries, restoration in the former inundated reservoir areas, Klamath River tributary reconnection, City of Yreka water supply line construction, Fall Creek Hatchery modifications, construction of boat ramps at new permanent recreation sites, and adaptive management related to restoration. To access the dams for deconstruction, the Renewal Corporation would perform a controlled reservoir drawdown using both existing and modified infrastructure. Dam demolition would occur over several months using multiple techniques.
Attachments:
- Corps Public Notice
- ROD for Clean Water Act Section 404 (CWA 404) Individual Permit
- Individual Permit Corps File Number SPN-2003-279850