Cover photo courtesy: William E. Simpson II
For over 100-years after the first dam was installed (Copco 1 Dam) and over 60-years after Iron Gate Dam was installed, there was nevertheless a decent run of Salmon and steelhead in the Klamath River, even with all of the changing ocean conditions, climate change, and OVERFISHING by both indigenous people and others. Any fishing guide on the Klamath River below Iron Gate Dam would attest to the fact that fishing was great.ย
Therefore, this is the ONLY relevant Question:ย Is the deaths of millions of wildlife (mammals, birds, fish, etc.) and the collapse of an entire ecosystem, on top of the devastation of the disadvantaged community of people who live on and around the Lakes (Copco & Iron Gate Lakes), ย a reasonable payment in exchange for the unproven possibility of an improved salmon run?ย ย
