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Is KRRC Initiating An Erosion Acceleration Program at Iron Gate Canyon?

Sure looks like it…

The downslope gullies that are being created by Klamath River Renewal Corporation’s (‘KRRC’) contractors will assure rapid downslope flow of water/precipitation and an acceleration of erosion and sedimentation into the Klamath River, which is just below these slopes. 

This photo was taken on October 15, 2024. Seen are downslope gullies created by a bulldozer. Photo: William Simpson II

We already have millions of tons of polluted clay sediments plugging-up the entirety of the Klamath River, so why add more? Has the River not suffered enough?

What we know from empirical experience is that the slope at Iron Gate canyon in the photo above will soon start resembling the slope in the image below after the first major rains:

This VIDEO shows KRRC contractors putting-in downslope gullies on the south side of the former Iron Gate Lake.

Going back thousands of years, the earliest conservation engineers knew that preventing downslope erosion was important. And they knew how to control downslope erosion with methods have withstood the test of time.

The Inka (Inca) Empire developed some of the earliest successful downslope erosion control methods using a terracing method that is still emulated today by leading conservation engineers today, but apparently not by KRRC.

ENGINEERING THE INKA EMPIRE
https://americanindian.si.edu/inkaroad/engineering/video/preventing-erosion.html

Modern day slope terracing methods are seen being used even in many third-world countries because it works and it’s cost effective.

In the photo below we see an example of contouring a steep slope perpendicular to the downslope grade to minimize erosion and stabilize slope.

Considering the foregoing, one might suspect that KRRC is merely interested in eliminating the polluted toxic clay sediments using any and all means that are cheap and available…. 

We watched in horror as they dumped thousands of additional tons of polluted clay sediments into the Klamath River, even after the initial insult of 5-7 Million cubic yards when they went off-plan and dewatered the lakes over a matter of days instead of the months as planned.

NOTE: KRRC stopped briefing the public and the Siskiyou County Supervisors on the dam removal project months ago, and avoid providing public comments on their actions to anyone asking hard questions.

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