OPINION: deep concern and outrage regarding the recent events surrounding the draining of Copco Lake

^{cover photo credit: Klamath River Renewal Corporation FB Page}

Dear Editor,

I am writing to express my deep concern and outrage regarding the recent events surrounding the draining of Copco Lake. As a former resident and someone who cherished Copco Lake as a second home, I am appalled by the devastating consequences of the dam removal project initiated by the KRRC (Klamath River Renewal Corporation).

My family’s connection to Copco Lake spans decades, with my father serving Siskiyou County as a California Department of Forestry firefighter for over thirty years. We enjoyed countless memories and experiences on the lake, from fishing and rafting to interacting with other families who shared our love for the outdoors. Copco Lake was not just a body of water; it was the heart of our community and a cherished part of our lives.

The decision to drain Copco Lake and remove the dams has had catastrophic effects on the environment and the residents who called this area home. The loss of property values, the failure of water wells, and the significant decline in wildlife populations are just a few devastating consequences. As highlighted in the report by William Simpson II, the toxic sediments released into the Klamath River pose a serious threat to the entire ecosystem, with levels of pollutants such as Mercury, Arsenic, and Chromium exceeding EPA permissible limits by alarming margins.

Furthermore, the lack of proper consideration for existing wildlife and the psychological and financial toll on longtime residents is unacceptable. Families like mine invested their lives and resources into Copco Lake, only to see their properties devalued and their way of life destroyed overnight. The disregard for the well-being of both human and animal inhabitants is a grave injustice that cannot be ignored.

Local, state, and federal elected officials must launch a thorough investigation into this matter to ensure accountability and prevent similar disasters from occurring in other communities. Reparations must be made to those who have suffered immense financial and emotional losses due to the negligence of the KRRC and federal agencies involved in this project.

As someone who no longer resides at Copco Lake, I am deeply saddened by the irreversible damage inflicted upon this once-vibrant community. The memories of Copco Lake will forever hold a special place in my heart. Still, the devastation caused by this man-made disaster has robbed future generations of the opportunity to experience its beauty and tranquility.

Sincerely,

Jon Quinday

Former resident: Montague, CA 96064
Currently: Russell, KS 67665

• Travels of Different Flavors
  Post Views: 13 I think back to trips I have taken, years ago, decades.  I think of the benches and chairs I slept upon; of the meals I ate, by pointing at words written in a different language; of people that I met, who came and went in a heartbeat, saying or doing profound things,
• Supreme Court Narrows Federal Law Barring Drug Users From Owning Guns
  Post Views: 10 Justices rule the government may not automatically disarm an occasional marijuana user, but stop short of striking the statute down WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Thursday that the federal government cannot automatically strip an occasional marijuana user of his right to own a firearm, narrowing a provision of the federal
• KLAMATH WATER USERS ASSOCIATION REACTS TO NEW COURT DECISION ON THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT
  Post Views: 24 Klamath Water Users Association (KWUA) is disappointed in a decision issued today by the United States Court of Appeals that affects water users who rely on the Klamath Project for irrigation water. In a 2-1 ruling, the court found that the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) has discretion to curtail water deliveries
• Obituary: Carol Lee Munson
  Post Views: 14 Carol Lee (Hammond) Munson passed away with family by her side on June 15, 2026 at Madrone Hospice House in Yreka. Carol was born in Yreka at the Siskiyou General Hospital to parents Carl and Jessie Hammond on April 27, 1941. At that time, Carl was a timber faller and the family
• Shasta River Flows Plummet Below Minimum — State Water Board Reinstates Conditional Curtailments on Junior Rights
  Post Views: 88 | Siskiyou News | June 16, 2026 YREKA — The State Water Resources Control Board has reinstated conditional curtailments for numerous junior water rights in the Shasta River watershed after flows at the Yreka USGS gage dropped sharply below the required minimum. As of early morning on June 16, 2026, flows measured