Mechanisms Driving Dissolved Oxygen Downstream of the Klamath Dam Removal

This was a presentation at the May 22nd, 2024 Klamath Basin Monitoring Program (KBMP) Meeting in Yreka, CA by Kristine Alford from Oregon State University. Presentation Summary: When drawdown commenced at both Copco II and Iron Gate Dams, a substantial amount of suspended sediment was released downstream into the mainstem Klamath River, as were pulses of anoxic hypolimnetic water from the reservoirs. These events were accompanied by short-term sags in dissolved oxygen. For three sites between Iron Gate Dam and the Shasta River, this presentation will include: 1) time series of DO in the river across stages of drawdown and storm events, and 2) time series of weekly temperature, suspended sediment concentrations, total organic carbon, and biological oxygen demand. I will use these data to hypothesize about key mechanisms likely driving DO dynamics during drawdown.