Monday September 25, 2023
Environmental Monitor —
The largest dam removal in U.S. history, the deconstruction of the Klamath Dam is slated to begin this summer. The project includes four dams along the Klamath River with the first and smallest dam, Copco #2, scheduled for removal first. As each of the dams are torn down, scientists and consultants will keep a close eye on the state of the Klamath River downstream to assess the impact of undamming the river.
Shawn Hinz, managing partner and environmental toxicologist with Gravity Consulting, has been involved with the Klamath Dam project for over a decade. Hinz was a part of these earlier steps, representing the academic stakeholder position as a graduate student sitting on a board of other stakeholders. Even though the decision to finally remove the dam came recently, advocacy groups have been pushing to undam the river for far longer.
When the dam was built in the early 1900s, it was designed to generate hydroelectric power, support irrigation, and provide flood control. However, the damming of the Klamath River led to the destruction of the natural environment and heavily impeded fish migration. Namely, salmon in the area declined as the fish could no longer swim up and downstream for spawning.