Wards Canyon at Copco No.1, Klamath River, California, April 15, 2024
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- Опубліковано 26 кві 2024
- John C. Boyle was the architect and engineer of the Lower Klamath Dams that include Copco No1 and No2, J. C. Boyle, and Iron Gate. These dams and their conveyances have been in the process of removal since early 2023 as part of the Klamath River Renewal Project.
In 1976, Boyle published his memoir as “50 Years On The Klamath.” It’s a remarkable telling of damming days gone by and what’s to follow draws heavily from his book as well as material gleaned from the Siskiyou County Recorder’s Office in Yreka, California.
It was early May in 1910 when the Siskiyou Electric Power and Light Company began surveying the Klamath River at Wards Canyon and the valley above. Their purpose was to describe the landscape in order to purchase the land on which to build their dams and related reservoirs - later named Copco No.1, Copco No.2 and their reservoir, Copco Lake.
Once surveyed, the land was purchased from what J. C. Boyle describes as owners who were “very reluctant to sell” but accepted favorable payment knowing that “power development was progress.” Among the last to leave was a widowed Shasta Indian named Kitty Ward whose 240 acre ranch sold for $10.00 in gold coin on January 5, 1911. This purchase included all water rights, ditches, and appurtenances (Siskiyou County Recorder).
Boyle doesn’t mention the actual terms he calls “somewhat high” but in his book “50 Years On The Klamath” he does mention the wages for those who worked on the dam. A laborer was paid $2.50 for a ten hour day and was charged .25¢ for meals. By this metric, the Ward Ranch was traded for the equivalent of forty hours of labor.
Work on the first Klamath River dam began in May 1911 at an andesite outcrop near the mouth of Ward’s Canyon but after exploratory drilling it was found to be inadequate. The location was then moved a thousand feet downriver.
On July 26th, 1911, work began with the building of a 30-foot tall wing dam built of rock-filled cribs. This dam redirected the Klamath River through a 365-foot bypass tunnel allowing riverbed access for excavating the dam’s foundation. Excavation stopped upon solid ground at 130 feet below river’s waterline. With another 130 feet of structural height the completed dam would be a 260 foot monolith of concrete, rock, and iron.
Through material shortages, finical troubles, and restructuring as the California Oregon Power Company completion took time but on January 11, 1918, the first of two generators began operation. Later in 1922, as demand from San Francisco increased, the second generator was added for a combined capacity of 20,000 KW of which the Pacific Gas and Electric Company purchased 12,600 KW.
At the time of this writing and documentary video one can see signs from the past. The scar from the abandoned site at the first andesite outcrop is clearly visible. Further down river is the original wing dam as well as the monolithic Copco No. 1 in demolition.
It’s important to note that for many, Wards Canyon is sacred space. Not only is its geology and geography impressive, it has been a confluence of human culture for thousands of years. This is ancestral land to the Shasta Indian Nation as well as for the Klamath River Tribes (a Nation of Klamath, Modoc, and Yahooskin Tribes). The land has been fought over, taken, homesteaded, taken again, and again. It’s a land and a community in need of healing and it’s not so easy to talk about. Nature will help work it out.
In the meantime, of course, there is human nature, and with that comes passion and controversy as we work through difference in belief and experience. Wards Canyon in particular is of great interest and will continue to be at the cultural confluence of what’s to come.
Let’s be kind as we hope for, work for, and wait for the salmon to return. The ethnographic record suggests they will but there’s reason to believe Wards Canyon will make for difficult passage. Perhaps with less water than centuries ago, there will be years where they won’t. We really don’t know, but the cold mountain springs of Kitty Ward’s Ranch will be free to flow and that will help sustain the river below. - Наука та технологія
How cool, a river being reborn. Can't wait to watch it grow!
On the opening morning of trout fishing season in 1977 I was fishing the river between C-1 & C-2 dams on the south side of the river when I decided to take a break. It was a good 20 feet down to the water from where I sat down. Pretty soon I heard Geese coming up the river. I sat very still, and they passed by at eye level very close to me. I was so shocked I almost fell off my rock. Well, that started my lifetime love! of geese and 22 years of the opening season in Wards canyon. The geese loved to nest in the rocks above C-1 dam by the guest house and they greeted me in the morning when I arrived to inspect the dam. Thank you very much for the fantastic videos and helping to bring back these memories, you are indeed a master of your craft!!!
Thank you for sharing John. That's a wonderful story.
I love the geese too. They always let you know they've arrived and know where you are. They are part of the character and wonder of the Klamath.
@@meridianphoto thank you for the compliment! I have a couple of more stories when the time comes. Oh, and as I type this I am listening to the most beautiful piano music, thanks to you!!
Ive fished that part for 57 years my dad bilt a small house on copco now it gone
@@rickpetersen41 Well Rick if ward canyon becomes volcanically active again you could see it become a lake again.
That maudlin music is not helpful
At 6:20 we can see the beautiful new course of the river - and how surprisingly dramatic the landscape of the new valley is. We also see a few houses in the upper right corner of the frame. I remember an interview with residents complaining about their lake disappearing. And they are right about that, the lake clearly is gone now. The difference is immense! But I hope they find the beauty in the new valley behind their homes, with the sounds of the free flowing river lulling them to sleep at night.
So amazing to see the entire scope of the project, thank you for your video!
Wonderful to watch this project from Sydney Australia.
I am so inspired by this project and watching with bated breath and lots of hope from Canada.
Thanks for the crystal clear documentation! Your videos are terrific!
Thank you. I truly appreciate the comment - it's good to know that long and slow isn't boring.
Thank you for posting these video updates. Watching the Klamath restoration project unfold has been exciting.
I am glad to know the videos are being enjoyed and have meaningful connections for people. It's neat to actually see the recovery process - it's not always pretty but it's beautiful.
@@meridianphoto I am curious as to what the yellow excavator is doing. Does it have to do with sedimentation? Do you know if there are any maps, photos and or illustrations of the Ward Canyon around the Copco 1 site. Would be interesting to see. Thanks!
@@jayhenderson6506 The excavator is doing two things. It's assisting in sediment evacuation and making access to the dam's base.
There was an incident earlier in the month where debris from blasting blocked the release tunnel. Quick access to unblock is critical.
Since this video, most of the historic wing dam has been removed.
For Maps of the area, Google Earth satellite views are quite excellent - search for Copco Lake, California.
USGS topo maps are also available online. Search for Copco Quadrangle.
Brought to you by expensive electricity and government debt.
Beautiful video and narrative...well done
Awesome !! Cool thanks !!
Your drone cinematography is on point!!! Great job!
Thank you. To see the renewal process without needing to walk on it has been a great experience. I'm grateful that others also appreciate the slow moving views.
@@meridianphoto I stayed at Copco with a friend for 3 days in January. It was the 1st 3days of the dam being open. A drone would have been great. There were many places I would have loved to have seen that were inaccessible. I am coming back in a few months. Looking forward to the changes.
@johnkilty5091 that reminds me, I was there at the time of the blast. In time I'll put something together on that.
Another awesome video documentation of this monumental restoration project.
I was so excited to see another one of your videos. Thanks!
Thank you. A lot of work is in progress on the restoration work in progress. It's impossible to keep up but I do what I can - it's all too amazing not to.
Thankfully, the worse of the muddy river appears to be past us and river life is returning.
What time of the year does The river get High Flow rates?
Typically April & May, but this section of the Klamath is kind of unique because Klamath lake is only about 50 miles above Copco reservoir #1 and absorbs a lot of the runoff from the mountain headwaters.
The Klamath was never as flashy, or prone to flooding as the Umpqua, Rogue, Smith, or Mad rivers.
After each storm, mostly in the late winter.
Anyone know if the engineers are going to remove the silt or are they going to let Mother nature take care of that.
Recovery is a journey of discovery. Keep us posted.
Thank you for your comment. I agree! Discovery is one of the joys to be found in this process.
It may take time to fully appreciate but I suspect the discoveries will be as endless as the river. I look forward to seeing what's to come.
Do rivers sense the need to help humans when we love and care for them? I choose to believe that. I've seen it.
It looks like the river from Prometheus that the dude dissolves into.
The corporation reports all dams will be gone by August 2024.
!
Won't removing all of these dams on the Klamath kill Klamath Lake, which depends on backed-up water from the river to maintain it'a meager depths ?
Non of the four dams on the lower Klamath had anything to do with backing up water beyond their own reservoirs and did not influence levels for the Klamath Lakes. Lake levels are regulated by Link River and Keno dams.
There certainly are issues of over-allocation of water resources but water rights and management for biological resources have not changed.
You want clean energy hydro electric dams are about the best option.
No, that's not true in every case. You have obviously never visited Copco or Irongate in August. There was nothing "clean" about that whole thing.
The Northwest over produces power from several clean sources. Hydro on the Columbia produces massive quantities of power from multiple dams. The Columbia also has a few thousand wind turbines along the ridgelines in both Oregon and Washington. Oregon has hundreds of solar farms. We have so much clean energy, we sell most of it to other states.
@@georgehaydukeiii6396 maybe there is “ nothing clean “ because it starts at Klamath lake?
What horrendous scarring.
Dams are bad
A painfully true realization.
Mudak !!!
So is ecocommunism.
@@MilwaukeeF40Cwhat is "ecocommunism?"
Sounds like some kind of word you just made up.
@@MilwaukeeF40C Now you are just making up words. Just come out and say you don't like the project and then say why. Very simple.
Depending on your age your not going to see a change in the number of salmon above the 50 miles of river they open up .
How can you be so certain about that? Are you a fish biologist? You sound as though you don't want this restoration to succeed because of what?
What a disaster!
Responsible one for oversight of this fiasco should be held accountable.
There are other ways to get rid of old dam without destruction of the entire river .
Your comment screams ignorance.😢
@@georgehaydukeiii6396 Oh sure , inconvenient truth hurts 🤕
@@kdomster9141 Troll! You remain intentionally ignorant of much more important environmental, and economic facts than what you present here....wise-up! Take a few moments to open-up your mind to the larger environment around you, please!
@kdomster9141 What river has been entirely destructed? Certainly not the Klamath. I have been there. Have you? I love this project. If you have a problem with this project. You are about 5 years late to the table. This has been in the planning for decades. Complaining now. Is just that. Complaining at this point is pointless.
@@johnkilty5091 I have seen videos showing entire bottom covered in deep sludge like muddy mass and water color and condition looking really murky ....
Don’t be fooled removing dams is bad
Hello poverty
Hello America.
Hello restoration and healing.
You can sprinkle sugar on dog poop, but it is still dog poop. So sad to see the results of shortsightedness.
That is one opinion shared by many who loved the reservoirs more than a river. I feel the loss but what's done is done. I look forward to five years from now when all the opinions are better informed by what actually happens. There'll likely be surprises. My hopes and prayers are for success. Why add energy to failure when the process has just begun?
I see something much different. I love this project. Say goodbye to the sick green algae filled lakes. What did you think about the water in those lakes? It was the same color as antifreeze. I am not even sort of exaggerating.
Looks like their getting ready to build a New! Larger DAM!! Going to be Awesome fishing. + The New Dam will produce very Clean Energy , supply water to farmers so they can grow food for us to eat!
NO WAIT!! LET IT ALL GO TO THE OCEAN ? BECOUSE OF A GROUP OF ENVIRONMENTALLY WACKED OUT FOLKS, YOU HAVE LOST YOU FREEKING MINDS!!!
Much of the field crops of alfalfa, hay, etc., is shippebu d to Japan, and China for their horses and cattle...does not support signifiant American business...so good riddance to these dams! Now the Klamath can run free throughout the majority of its salmon runs needs once again! Expand your awareness about the benefits of undamed rivers instead of what you posted.
@kellycraig5568 Nice try? What would you have done to fix the water problem in the lakes. They tried doing nothing. That did not work. Did you know the lakes were sick and killed fish by the thousands every summer? What is you solution to that problem? The group you are attempting to insult is made up of. Locals, tribal members, lawyers, dam operators, biologists, hydrologists, foresters, dam owners, seed gatherers, helicopter pilots, demo crews, heavy equipment operators. You want to call all of these I mentioned. Wacked out? Do some reading and complain less. If you have a problem with this project. You should have been involved ten plus years ago. All your complaining at this point is literally water going under the bridge, then down the river into the ocean. Complaining is pointless and a waste of your time.
@@kellycraig5568 complaining is not pointless it sure works for environmentalists. Anybody who has a brain knows these dam are just the beginning. I say people who have never built anything should not be allowed to tear things down. Unless you think they are smarter than the people who built our country?