Klamath

Photos of a few of the access points on a drive up Highway 96.

Evening park and play session at Schoolhouse Wave. Flows were good but a short boat would have been better than the long boats we had.

Spring evening at Iron Gate Dam, scheduled for removal in 2024.

I wanted to see this section on my way outta CA before the dam comes down. Not much for whitewater as expected, but saw a Lewis' woodpecker, western tanagers, bald eagles, the usual lot of turkey vultures, mergansers, dippers, and perhaps more osreys than I've ever seen in one place near the dam. They know the salmon are coming back!

The Pacific Chapter of the River Management Society hosted a trip from Tree of Heaven to Gottville following a day of presentations on Klamath Dam removal and restoration of the Klamath River. The trip included river managers from several of the major river systems on the West Coast and partners who have been involved in dam removal. The run was about two hours which included a quick stop to get in a couple surfs at the Schoolhouse Wave. A shorter playboat would have been ideal.

Drive up the Klamath River on Highway 96, under I-5, and on up to Iron Gate via Klamathon Road. The site visit at Iron Gate included representatives of Klamath River Renewal Corporation and their contractors, Tribes, resource agencies, whitewater boaters, and whitewater outfitters.

I was at the Klamath for a day of meetings and site visit with resource agencies to discuss recreational mitigation following dam removal. I spent the evening at Tree of Heaven Campground.

We were headed downstream but stopped at Sarah Totten Campground to check out the boat ramp.

Spending the night at Tree of Heaven Campground during the week of the Keno and Ward's Canyon flow studies.

Site visit to Iron Gate to check out the access during the week of the Keno and Ward's Canyon flow studies.

On a Klamath Field tour with American Whitewater, Upper Klamath Outfitters Association, National Park Service, and Senator Jeff Golden.

Stop at Iron Gate on a road trip south along Interstate 5. The dam is 8 miles off the highway.

From Tree of Heaven campground to Gottville is a very good beginner run. The run has many class 2 rapids, 3 class 2+ rapids and 1 class 3- rapid (at Lumgrey Creek) It is also home to the Schoolhouse Wave, this neck of the woods favorite summer playspot. It's located just downstream of milepost 93.5 (If I remember my milepost right). Friendly flows for Schoolhouse are 900 to 1,150 (Iron Gate plus Shasta) It may be a narrow range but most summers it's in from July thru Sept. 24/7. Dry years upstream can change the flow regime and two out of the last three years in August flows out of Iron Gate jumped to 1,400cfs but came back down after three or four days. so give the internet a check before you head out. Also water quality that has always been suspect has now confirmed to be not good and the last few years warnings have been issued to avoid contact (esp dogs) by the North Coast regional water quality board usually in mid August for toxic blue green algae that originates from upstream reservoirs. Which has cut down my playtime as I go elsewhere.

A stop at Iron Gate on a trip along Interstate 5. The dam is located 8 miles east of the interstate.