In a move typical of California’s mismanaged policies, Governor Gavin Newsom has spearheaded a proposal to demolish four dams along the Klamath River, purportedly to aid the native salmon population. However, the outcome has been a catastrophic increase in pollution, with millions of cubic yards of debris now flooding the once pristine river.
Despite opposition from local residents, the dismantling of the hydroelectric dams began in late January, leading to a surge in decomposed algae, chemicals, and sediment that threaten to devastate the delicate ecosystem.
CA Gov. Gavin Newsom backed the controversial proposal to remove four Klamath River hydroelectric dams along the California-Oregon border. Now, the same fish he swore to protect could be killed in the process.
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— 🇺🇸 ʟᴇғᴛ ᴄᴏᴀˢᴛ ᴠᴀɢʀᴀɴᴛ 🇺🇸 (@Baklava_USA) February 29, 2024
According to reports from the California Globe, the full extent of the damage won’t be known until the younger fish return to their spawning grounds, which may not be until Fall 2025 or later for some species.
The alarming rise in pollution has raised serious concerns among locals who fear that the disrupted food chain will spell disaster for the salmon population as they mature.
Even without precise data, it’s evident that dumping ten million cubic yards of pollutants into the river will significantly impact the survival rates of the salmon. Turbidity levels are expected to skyrocket, making the water conditions uninhabitable for the already threatened coho salmon.
The $500 million initiative, ostensibly aimed at preventing salmon die-offs, has backfired spectacularly, with residents warning of the futility of removing the dams. They argue that the real issue lies in the state of the ocean, which has already contributed to declining salmon populations.
Richard Marshall, head of the Siskiyou County Water Users Association, had long cautioned against the dam removal, emphasizing the need to address existing problems rather than resorting to drastic measures that only exacerbate the situation.
