Iron Gate Dam (California) Explained

Iron Gate Dam
Coordinates:41.9339°N -122.4353°W
Country:United States
Location:Siskiyou County, California
Demolished:2024
Dam Type:Earthfill
Dam Height:173feet
Dam Length:540feet
Dam Crosses:Klamath River
Spillway Type:Concrete overflow
Res Name:Iron Gate Reservoir
Res Capacity Total:58000acre feet
Res Catchment:4630mi2
Res Surface:1020acres
Res Max Depth:210 feet (64 m)
Plant Turbines:2
Plant Capacity:18 MW
Plant Annual Gen:112,650,000 KWh

Iron Gate Dam is an earthfill hydroelectric dam on the Klamath River in northern California, outside Hornbrook, California, that opened in 1964. The dam blocks the Klamath River to create the Iron Gate Lake Reservoir. It is the lowermost of a series of power dams on the river, the Klamath River Hydroelectric Project, operated by PacifiCorp. It also poses the first barrier to migrating salmon in the Klamath. The Iron Gate Fish Hatchery was placed just after the dam, hatching salmon and steelhead that are released back into the river.[1]

A movement to Un-Dam the Klamath has been ongoing for 20 years to remove the dams.[2] [3] The Iron Gate Dam (National ID CN 001223),[4] along with the John C. Boyle Dam, are two of four on the Klamath River that would be removed under the Klamath Economic Restoration Act.[5] As of February 2016, the states of Oregon and California, the dam owners, federal regulators, and other parties reached an agreement to remove all four dams by the year 2020, pending approval by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.[6] On February 25, 2022, the FERC released its final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on the dam's removal.

The Iron Gate Dam is expected to be removed in 2024.[7] On January 11, 2024, the bypass tunnel at the dam was opened to drain the reservoir, in anticipation of the dam's removal which began on May 3.[8] [9]

Iron Gate Reservoir

Iron Gate Reservoir was an artificial lake on the Klamath River in Siskiyou County, California, near the Oregon border of the United States. The lake's waters were impounded by the Iron Gate Dam and operated by PacifiCorp. It had an average depth of 70 feet (21.4 m).[10]

The Iron Gate Reservoir was host to several recreation activities. There are several campsites on the Western side of the former reservoir. Some campsites, such as Mirror Cove and Juniper Point, are open from May to October. Others, such as Camp Creek, are open year-round. All campsites are free to use.[11] Each site had a launch point, allowing for boating, kayaking, and swimming on the reservoir. The reservoir contained yellow perch, trout, largemouth bass, catfish, and native rainbow trout, which made it a popular fishing location.[12]

In 2020, the state released a danger warning about harmful blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) blooms. These blooms are toxic to humans and animals, so announcements were made warning against swimming in the reservoir and eating any fish from the reservoir.[13] There have been reports in the past, but no warnings have been made since. These algal bloom growths likely occurred due to lower water levels and increasing water temperatures.

In January 2024, the reservoir was drained. Restoration work of the natural river system is ongoing.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Iron Gate Fish Hatchery.
  2. Web site: Hartel . Diana . 25 May 2011 . Doctor's Orders: Undam the Klamath . High Country News.
  3. Web site: 22 October 2020 . Dams Are Threatening California Salmon and a Native Tribe's Culture . VICE News.
  4. Web site: USGS Current Conditions for USGS 11516530 KLAMATH R BL IRON GATE DAM CA . 2022-04-30 . waterdata.usgs.gov.
  5. Stillwater Sciences A Preliminary Evaluation of the Potential Downstream Sediment Deposition Following the Removal of Iron Gate, Copco, and J.C. Boyle Dams, Klamath River, CA Final Report Prepared for American Rivers, May 2004.
  6. Web site: New plan to remove Klamath River dams without help from Congress. Carolyn Lochhead. 3 February 2016. SFGate.
  7. Web site: FERC Staff Issues the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Hydropower License Surrender and Decommissioning of the Lower Klamath Project No. 14803 (P-14803-001) Federal Energy Regulatory Commission . 2022-04-30 . www.ferc.gov . en.
  8. News: Neumann . Erik . 13 January 2024 . No turning back: The largest dam removal in U.S. history begins . 13 January 2024 . NPR.
  9. Web site: 2024-05-03 . As dismantling of largest dam begins on Klamath River, activists see 'new beginning' . 2024-05-24 . Los Angeles Times . en-US.
  10. Web site: Document Display NEPIS US EPA . 2022-04-30 . nepis.epa.gov . en.
  11. Web site: Iron Gate Reservoir . 2022-04-30 . Discover Siskiyou . en-US.
  12. Web site: 2015-04-01 . #88 – Iron Gate Reservoir . https://web.archive.org/web/20200810101804/http://101things.com/shasta/iron-gate-reservoir/ . dead . August 10, 2020 . 2022-04-30 . 101 Things To Do Shasta Cascade . en-US .
  13. Web site: Kinkade . Skye . Don't go in the water: dangerous algal blooms at Iron Gate, Copco reservoirs . 2022-04-30 . Siskiyou Daily News . en-US.