Wednesday November 13, 2024
Klamath Falls Herald and News —
Four Klamath River hydroelectric dams have been removed.
For many, the question is: What’s the future of the Keno Dam?
The Keno Dam is a non-power generating dam that was built in 1967 after a flood washed out the wooden Needle Dam. It was owned by PacifiCorp until ownership was recently transferred to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Located about a mile south of Keno, it impounds water from Keno about 22 miles upstream to Lake Ewauna in Klamath Falls. It also provides for about a third othe water for Klamath Reclamation Project irrigators. Because of its importance to agriculture, the dam will remain in place.
The Keno Dam is 41 feet high and 723 feet wide. The Irongate Dam, one of four dams that has been removed, was 173 feet high and 540 feet wide, and the John C. Boyle was 68 feet high and 715 feet wide. Copco No. 1 was 132 feet high and 415 feet wide while Copco 2, the smallest of four removed dams, was 33 feet high and 78 feet long.