Klamath Reconnection Plan Clears First Design Hurdle

Approximately $900,000 in funding has been secured so far for the Lower Klamath Lake Reconnection Project as the initiative cleared its first design milestone. The total estimated cost for the next two-year phase of the design process is $3 million. Partners presented the concept at a public meeting held at Oregon Tech on Tuesday night.

The project aims to reestablish the natural ebb and flow of water between the Klamath River and the Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge. This restoration would mimic the ecosystem's function prior to agricultural alterations. Engineers are currently evaluating five different designs, with one selected to move forward in the coming months. The primary goal is to provide reliable habitat for thousands of migratory birds.

Scott White, general manager of the Klamath Drainage District, has championed the reconnection since the refuge dried out completely in 2021. White described the silence of the dry refuge, noting that bird sounds were absent. He stated, “You couldn’t hear wingbeats; you couldn’t hear quacking; you couldn’t hear any birds.” He compared the scene to the novel “Silent Spring.” The district initiated discussions with the Yurok Tribe, which expanded into a broader partnership involving the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Modoc Tribe, and the Klamath Tribe.

The plans include the installation of fish screens to prevent salmon and other fish from entering irrigation canals. Since the removal of four dams on the Klamath River, salmon have increasingly accessed irrigation infrastructure. The project may also feature a new fishway to allow safe passage between the river and the refuge. Partners argue that reconnecting the waterways will improve water quality, create habitat for salmon and suckers, and increase the ecosystem's resilience to drought.

Mike Belchik, a senior water policy analyst for the Yurok Tribe, characterized the project as a “six-way win.” He explained that the effort would restore the hydrology and ecological function of Lower Klamath Lake. The Yurok Tribe has contributed technical expertise, including detailed lidar mapping of the project area. Hydraulic modeling is currently being used to understand how water will move under various conditions.

DJ Bandrowski, a civil engineer and program manager at the Yurok Tribe, confirmed that the team has completed the necessary engineering and modeling to proceed. He stated, “There’s been enough engineering, modeling, and ingenuity to help us understand that this is a possibility, and we can move forward.” The reconnection project is one of several collaborative restoration efforts developing across the Klamath watershed following the recent dam removals.

Belchik noted that the project represents one part of a larger effort to define the future of the river. He said, “People are writing the next chapter of the Klamath, and this is one piece of it.” The working group continues to refine the selected design before moving to the next phase of construction planning.