The Klamath River Renewal Corporation Announces New Executive Director

The Klamath River Renewal Corporation (KRRC), a nonprofit corporation formed in 2016 to revitalize the Klamath River Basin by improving the local economy, benefitting PacifiCorp’s customers, and enhancing environmental conditions on the Klamath River, has announced Mark Bransom as its Executive Director. Mark will officially assume this new role in early June 2017.

“We are especially pleased to announce this appointment,” reported Michael Carrier, KRRC Board President. “Mark will bring leadership, construction management, and hands-on knowledge of the region to successfully carry out KRRC’s mission and to help address the Basin’s environmental, economic, and cultural needs.”

Mark’s background uniquely positions him to assume this post. He brings over 20 years of planning, engineering, and construction experience in water resources and environmental management for state and local governments, federal agencies, Tribal Nations, NGOs, and private sector clients throughout the Western United States.

Mark comes to KRRC from CH2M HILL, where he worked as a Senior Vice President in Water Resources & Environmental Management and oversaw a variety of large water infrastructure and environmental restoration projects. Mark holds a BS in Natural Resources Planning from Humboldt State University and earned his PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Oregon State University. “I look forward to serving and building relationships with all Klamath Basin stakeholders and KHSA signatories to achieve this important milestone in the region,” Bransom stated. “I believe the KRRC will play a key role improving the region’s quality of life and vitality.”

The KRRC will make every effort to reestablish more than 400 miles of critical fisheries habitat and improve water quality by decommissioning four hydroelectric dams in partnership with PacifiCorp, the owner of the facilities, while ensuring an open and collaborative engagement of all stakeholders in the region.

Sarah Link, Vice President and General Counsel of Pacific Power (dam owner) added, “We are pleased that Mark is on board as we continue to work together with the KRRC to implement this important agreement. Mark’s background in water resources, as well as his experience in the Klamath Basin and with complicated projects will serve the KRRC well.”

The KRRC was formed by the signatories of the Klamath Hydroelectric Settlement Agreement. It is funded by PacifiCorp customers and the citizens of California through Proposition 1 monies. It is governed by a Board of Directors nominated by the states of Oregon and California, as well as representatives from Tribal Nations, fishing interests, and conservation groups.

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.