WHITEWATER RECREATION ON THE UPPER KLAMATH

Upper Klamath Rafting – July of 2021.

Note: The following article offers a personal perspective of navigating the Klamath Dam removal project within the scope of whitewater recreation as a commercial operator on the Hell’s Corner section of the Klamath. It is not meant to discount the “project” as a whole – dam removal – as it is much larger than recreation, whitewater, or commercial enterprises. Dam removal was a tribally conceived and led effort. It is their story and their success to own, from start to finish. Though the story began as soon as the first dam was built, 2002 is often considered the genesis of the dam removal movement when a group of natives, reeling from the disastrous Klamath fish kill, gathered at Dolans Bar to grieve and chart a path forward. They left the river that day with a goal to remove the hydropower dams and, remarkably and against the odds, succeeded.

PRE-DAM REMOVAL RAFTING

Since the late 1970’s, rafting companies offered daily whitewater rafting trips on the “Hell’s Corner” section of the Upper Klamath. Hell’s Corner was 14 miles of river sandwiched between John C. Boyle Powerhouse and COPCO reservoir. Daily power production commenced at approximately 10:30 a.m. and concluded by 3:00 p.m. nearly every day of the year. This power generation produced artificial peaking flows of roughly 1,800 cubic feet per second, as well as artificial low flows when the turbines were not in use. 

GETTING TO “REMOVAL”

The prospect of dam removal piqued the interest of numerous stakeholders. A relicensing deadline through the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) was the catalyst, but the path forward was slow and had many hurdles – socially, politically, and financially.

Following the Klamath River Fish Kill of 2002, when over 34,000 fish died, and identification of Klamath River Dams as a substantial causative factor, Tribal members gathered at Dolans Bar to grieve and chart a path forward for dam removal. With the objective set, a path for Klamath River Dam removal as the preferred alternative to relicensing the project was established. In 2016, the legislative pathway for dam removal completely broke down, in what can only be described as a political meltdown. A year later, a group of Tribal leaders and dedicated environmentalists emerged from the fragmented group. The objective was simple, but new: create an organization to oversee Klamath dam removal. This organization, with the cooperation of PacifiCorp, would initiate a license transfer through FERC, with the intent to surrender the license. Never in history had an entity initiated a FERC license transfer of a dam with the intention to surrender the license.

The Klamath River Renewal Corporation (KRRC) was formed. As talks progressed, it became evident that the path forward had been found. License transfer occurred in 2023 and, shortly after, FERC approved license surrender.

The largest dam removal project in history was underway.

Ward’s Canyon site visit with whitewater recreation stakeholders.

COLLABORATION

For guides and outfitters, the rumor of “dam removal” had circulated like driftwood in an eddy. It came and went for years until the concept was as overlooked as a vulture in the sky. When KRRC formed, it appeared to just be another small step that, undoubtedly, would be undone within a year. There were a lot of unknowns, including whether PacifiCorp would opt to relicense the dams, which would spell the end of the effort.

The first indication of traction came in May of 2018. American Whitewater’s (AW) North West Regional Coordinator, Bill Cross, arranged a meeting with the three local Upper Klamath outfitters. At the time, the Big Three (Indigo Creek Outfitters, Noah’s River Adventures, and Momentum River Expeditions), accounted for an estimated 90+% of the total “user days” on the Upper Klamath. These were the whitewater recreation businesses that would be most impacted by any changes – or elimination – of the flow regime out of John C. Boyle. 

Navigating a lengthy, time-sucking, expensive, bureaucratic process is hardly on the list of reasons someone decides to work in the outdoor industry. Dam removal would force outfitters into a unique and conflicting position. Consistent, daily releases from John C. Boyle had been the backbone of Upper Klamath operations for decades. The prospect of losing those releases was a threat to their businesses. Simultaneously, one cannot work in this industry and not have an appreciation or love for conservation, protection, and betterment of the natural environment. Historically, outfitters in the west fought dam construction and acted as protectors of wild rivers. In the late 70’s, river runners had galvanized over the battle and loss of California’s Stanislaus River. Groups like Friends of the River formed to lead campaigns to protect other western rivers from dam construction.

Now outfitters were on the other side of the story. As talks wore on, it became clear that Upper Klamath outfitters would need to dip their toes into the bureaucratic process to advocate for outdoor recreation. The Big Three formed the Upper Klamath Outfitters Association (UKOA) to speak as one voice for commercial outfitters. AW had set the stage for recreation to be a part of the discussion; and UKOA had a front row seat.

“The river will be over there…” Site visit to COPCO reservoir.

Site visit to Keno Dam with KRRC, American Whitewater, UKOA, the Bureau of Land Management, and Oregon State Parks.

AW’s early outreach to outfitters proved to be effective in representing a diverse set of whitewater recreation and interests. UKOA’s knowledge and experience on the Upper Klamath was a complement to AW’s experience with dam removals and the associated bureaucratic processes. The collaboration was anchored around a core set of objectives that fell into alignment for both organizations. Thomas O’Keefe, Bill Cross, and Scott Harding of AW were instrumental figures throughout the process and advocated for whitewater recreation on the “New Klamath.” Our industry owes AW a big thank you for their work on this project.

Iron Gate site visit with whitewater recreation stakeholders.

As KRRC picked up steam, it became clear that the project was going to move forward. UKOA took a position of supporting dam removal while simultaneously pushing FERC to include recreation as part of the scope of the project. In 2020, FERC agreed that impacts to recreation must be considered and mitigated. The “asks” from UKOA and American Whitewater were for flow studies, access point development, hazard mitigation, and guaranteed flows in the year preceding drawdown of the reservoirs.

Flow studies were contracted and kicked off in 2020. The goal was to see different sections of river at the anticipated “post dam removal” flows. The flow studies required collaboration between KRRC, AW, UKOA, and PacifiCorp and took place on the Keno, Big Bend, Hell’s Corner, and Ward’s Canyon sections. The flow studies allowed UKOA and AW to better anticipate opportunities on the post-dam Klamath.

Flow study on the Big Bend section of the Upper Klamath.

Flow study on the Big Bend section of the Upper Klamath.

Hazard mitigation was necessary at two locations, Big Bend and Ward’s Canyon. These were sections that had been unnaturally dewatered and altered because of the dams and infrastructure. At Big Bend, large rocks had been pushed into the river during construction of the John C. Boyle canal and access road. At one location in particular, Sidecast Rapid, a dangerous sieve had formed as a result of the construction. The associated rocks were drilled and then filled with expanding grout, which broke them into many small pieces, removing the man-made obstructions and creating a safer passage. In Ward’s Canyon, trees had grown in the dewatered river channel, creating an unnatural forest in the middle of what would soon be a river. These trees were tagged by members of UKOA, AW, and Tribes. Work to clear these trees concluded in June of 2023.

Copco 2 Dam during a site visit to tag trees in Ward’s Canyon.

Walking through a dewatered Ward’s Canyon to tag trees for removal.

Access points are crucial infrastructure for controlling use, protecting cultural resources, and managing public lands. AW and UKOA proposed new access points at areas of significant changes of gradient (how much the river is dropping). KRRC, with a huge lift from AW, wrote a grant proposal and was awarded funds for access point planning and development in California. Today, funds are still needed for Oregon’s proposed access points.

Bill Cross of American Whitewater discusses access locations with State Senator Jeff Golden.

In order to survive the transition, UKOA requested guaranteed flows in 2023. KRRC agreed to match the previous flow schedule, with the exception of one week in June, until September 4, 2023. In 2023, with news of the impending project, more people visited and rafted the Upper Klamath than any time in the previous 20 years. 

Discussing project timelines at Iron Gate.

The last day of peaking flows from John C. Boyle.

WHAT’S NEXT?

The work accomplished by AW and UKOA gives outfitters and the public the opportunity to explore the “New Klamath.” There are still many unknowns, but today the Klamath River has four fewer dams than it did in 2023. In 2025, we (Indigo Creek Outfitters) plan to offer new trips that are built around the information we’ve gathered and worked toward since 2018. 

I am proud of the work that was done and the sacrifices that were made to bring us to today. There was no template for what was done on the Klamath; but that’s no longer the case. My hope is that future river runners, outfitters, politicians, Tribes, and communities can learn from this process and lean on our documented experience to continue improving river systems and recreational opportunities for future generations. In one of UKOA’s last letters to FERC, we wrote about the importance of sharing the Klamath River after the dams come down. Our customers in 2025 will have a front row seat on a new river and how the project is “perceived and embraced by the public will have everything to do with the viability of future large-scale restoration projects.

In the end, this was a project centered around rivers, communities, cultures, and our personal relationships with the natural world. I invite you to join us in 2025 to explore the “New Klamath.”

All Forward,

Will Volpert
Owner – Indigo Creek Outfitters