Lights out for PacifiCorp on the Klamath River as Keno Dam transfers to federal ownership
On July 30, 2024, ownership of Keno Dam changed, with PacifiCorp transferring the title to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. There was no fanfare, no media event, no press release. But the event is highly notable. Over 110 years, PacifiCorp (and its predecessors) built and operated six dams on the Klamath River. As the summer of 2024 comes to an end, four dams are gone, and Reclamation operates the remaining two. Keno Dam has an unusual history. It does not store water and is not used for hydropower generation. Yet it has been part of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) license for PacifiCorp’s hydropower developments, and unlike the other licensed dams on the river, it will remain in place.
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