Klamath River Renewal Corp. Informational Meeting

The Klamath County Chamber of Commerce and Klamath County Economic Development are jointly hosting an informational meeting regarding a significant business opportunity for a wide range of contractors in our area.

The Klamath River Renewal Corporation, or KRRC, has at its disposal up to $450 million to carry out the largest dam removal and environmental restoration effort in US history.  On Tuesday, September 18th, we invite you to a meeting at 403 Main Street in Klamath Falls from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. to learn details. 

We understand that this project has been controversial in our area, and we are not taking a pro or con position on dam removal.  However, it appears that this project is moving forward and we believe that local businesses should benefit from it.  The money will be spent, and we want as much of it as possible to be spent in our area.

Goods and services required include, but are not limited to:

Surveying • Quality control (inspection and material testing) • Heavy equipment operation (dozers, scrapers, backhoes, excavators, etc.) • Manual construction labor (e.g. pipe installation, site cleanup, etc.) • Planting and irrigation installation • Non-native plant control • Drilling • Explosive handling • Truck driving • Road grading and maintenance • Fire break construction • Material processing and stockpiling • Site security • Construction workforce support • Road improvement design • Water pipeline design • Recreation demolition and restoration design • Road improvement and access road construction, including dust control 

By way of background, KRRC is a private, independent nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization formed by signatories of the amended Klamath Hydroelectric Settlement Agreement, or KHSA. KRRC’s job is to take ownership of four PacifiCorp dams — JC Boyle (in Klamath County, Oregon), Copco, No. 1 & 2, and Iron Gate (in Siskiyou County, California) — and then remove these dams, restore formerly inundated lands, and implement required mitigation measures in compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations.

Signatories of the amended KHSA, including the States of California and Oregon, local governments, Tribal nations, dam owner PacifiCorp, irrigators, and several conservation and fishing groups, appointed KRRC to oversee this project.  KRRC’s work is funded by PacifiCorp customer surcharges and California Proposition 1 water bond funds.

KRRC’s sole focus is to perform the dam removal and restoration project.  The KRRC is not empowered to revisit the decision or modify the decision.   Dam removal is expected to begin in 2021, with significant prep work performed in 2020.  But components of the project are happening now or in the immediate future.

We hope you will attend if you see an opportunity for your business.