Throwback Thursday: The Salt Caves Dam

Old Oregon Wild article on Salt Caves Dam

By Teresa Connolly

Before 1980, the stretch of the Klamath River between the John Boyle and Copco Dam flowed freely for seventeen miles. The remote beauty of the Klamath River Canyon formed a tranquil environment that supported many species of wildlife. Not only was the area surrounding the river home to a diverse selection of plants, it provided fisherman with access to the native wild trout and locals with the opportunity of exploring the Klamath River through whitewater rafting.

But Gail Gredler, the author of a 1981 article from ONRC’s Wild Oregon Newsletter, described how this stretch of the river was on the verge of destruction. Over thirty years ago, Pacific Power and Light (PP&L) and the city of Klamath Falls put into motion a proposal for another dam along the Klamath River. At the time, PP&L had initially applied to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for a permit that would establish priority to build the Salt Caves Dam just 27 miles southwest of Klamath Falls. 

If the application had been approved and the Salt Caves Dam built, there would now exist a 120 foot high and 380 foot long earthen filled dam which would have diverted the water into 22,000 foot long concrete canal, or in simpler terms, a structure that would have damaged the spectacular and undisturbed Klamath River Canyon. 

A dam at this site would have had serious repercussions for the existing flora and fauna. At the time of the proposal, there were two federally endangered species in the area of the proposed site. Both the Peregrine Falcon and the Bald Eagle were present in the Klamath River Canyon and construction could have easily destroyed nesting sites, rendering another habitat unlivable for two already struggling species. The surrounding trees, shrubs and even one plant, a candidate for an endangered status, would have suffered greatly from construction of the dam. As a key habitat for a number of species of trout and even a prime location for whitewater rafting, it is no wonder that conservationists took action against this proposal in an effort to protect the Klamath River. Several hundred acres of wildlife habitat was at stake and the Salt Caves Project would only have meant destruction of this area.  

Due to the hard work of conservations and concerned citizens, the Salt Caves Dam never left the proposal stage. But the Klamath River is still home to six other dams, blocking over 300 miles of salmon habitat and causing many other challenges for the Klamath Basin. What once used to be the third largest salmon and steelhead producer, the Klamath River has steadily lost its ability to provide a quality habitat for these species of fish. Oregon Wild stands behind propsoals to remove these dams, actions that will restore the Klamath River to its former glory and allow the Klamath Basin to find balance. 

Want more information on restoring the Klamath Basin? Click here!

Photo Credits
Photos from Steve Pedery and Oregon Wild