FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 29, 2017
CONTACT: Mark Bransom, Executive Director
(415) 820-4441
mark@klamathrenewal.org
At a meeting on June 21, 2017, the Board of Directors of the Klamath River Renewal Corporation (KRRC) approved the organization’s budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2017.
Over the last year, KRRC has worked to establish the organization as an independent non-profit corporation with the resources and team necessary to achieve its mission: to improve river conditions and fish passage. KRRC will accomplish this primarily by removing four hydroelectric dams on the Klamath River in Oregon and California – JC Boyle, Copco No. 1 & 2, and Iron Gate. This is a cooperative effort in partnership with PacifiCorp – the current owner of the facilities – the States of Oregon and California, and other parties to the Klamath Hydroelectric Settlement Agreement.
KRRC has received funding from the State of Oregon Public Utilities Commission and the State of California
Natural Resource Agency. An agreement with the State of California Public Utilities Commission is pending. These funds are provided exclusively for activities necessary to achieve the goals of the 2016 Klamath Hydroelectric Settlement Agreement.
Under the guidance of its Board, to date KRRC has:
- Set up the organization’s governance, financial management, and risk management systems;
- Submitted initial regulatory filings to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), the California
- State Water Resources Control Board, and the State of Oregon Department of Environmental Quality;
- Secured long term funding through the States of California and Oregon;
- Hired technical representation, legal counsel, interim staff support, and an Executive Director; and
- Begun outreach and engagement with state and local stakeholders.
For the upcoming fiscal year beginning July 1, 2017, KRRC approved a budget of $20.2 Million. KRRC will build on
the progress made over the last year and focus on obtaining regulatory approvals and beginning the technical
preparations necessary for dam decommissioning.
- Primary regulatory activities will include preparation and filing of additional technical information,
environmental data, and planning documents to FERC and the California State Water Resources Control
Board to support those agencies’ environmental impact and license application reviews. - KRRC will also work with its legal teams to evaluate construction delivery methods and initiate the
selection process for a construction or design-build firm to perform dam removal. - Finally, KRRC will continue conversations with local governments and stakeholders to address concerns,
develop solutions, and promote local economic development in the Klamath region.
For further information, contact Mark Bransom at 415-820-4441 or mark@klamathrenewal.org.
The Klamath River Renewal Corporation (KRRC) is an independent nonprofit organization founded in 2016 as part of the amended Klamath Hydroelectric Settlement Agreement (KHSA). KRRC is part of a cooperative effort to re-establish the natural vitality of the Klamath River so that it can support all communities in the basin. Signatories of the amended KHSA incude the states of California and Oregon, local governments, tribal nations, dam owner PacifiCorp, irrigators, and several conservation and fishing groups. KRRC was formed for the sole purpose of taking ownership of four PacifiCorps dams — J.C. Boyle, Copco No. 1 & 2, and Iron Gate – and then removing these dams, restoring formerly inundated lands, and implementing required mitigation measures in compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations. KRRC’s work is funded by PacifiCorp customer surcharges and California Proposition 1 water bond funds.
KRRC values transparency and cooperation with all stakeholders and is committed to working with residents and governments to minimize any nuisance or negative impacts while enhancing the project’s local benefits.