Iron Gate Dam (California)

{{Infobox dam

| name = Iron Gate Dam

| name_official =

| image = Iron Gate Dam and Fish Hatchery (cropped).jpg

| image_size = 250px

| image_caption = Iron Gate Dam in 2009

| image_alt =

| location_map = California

| location_map_size = 250px

| location_map_caption =

| coordinates = {{coord|41|56|02|N|122|26|07|W|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}

| country = United States

| location = Siskiyou County, California

| status =

| construction_began =

| opening = {{Start date and age|1964}}

| demolished = 2024

| cost =

| owner =

| dam_type = Earthfill

| dam_height = {{convert|173|ft|m|abbr=on}}

| dam_height_thalweg =

| dam_height_foundation =

| dam_length = {{convert|540|ft|m|abbr=on}}

| dam_width_crest =

| dam_width_base =

| dam_volume =

| dam_elevation_crest =

| dam_crosses = Klamath River

| spillway_count =

| spillway_type = Concrete overflow

| spillway_capacity =

| res_name = Iron Gate Reservoir

| res_capacity_total = {{convert|58000|acre feet|m3|abbr=on}}

| res_capacity_active =

| res_capacity_inactive =

| res_catchment = {{convert|4630|mi2|km2|abbr=on}}

| res_surface = {{convert|1020|acre|ha|abbr=on}}

| res_elevation =

| res_max_depth = 210 feet (64 m)

| res_max_length =

| res_max_width =

| res_tidal_range =

| plant_operator =

| plant_commission =

| plant_decommission =

| plant_type =

| plant_turbines = 2

| plant_capacity = 18 MW

| plant_annual_gen = 112,650,000 KWh

| website =

| extra =

}}

Iron Gate Dam was an earthfill hydroelectric dam on the Klamath River in northern California, outside Hornbrook, California, that opened in 1964. The dam blocked the Klamath River to create the Iron Gate Lake Reservoir. It was the lowermost of a series of power dams on the river, the Klamath River Hydroelectric Project, operated by PacifiCorp. It also posed the first barrier to migrating salmon in the Klamath. The Iron Gate Fish Hatchery was placed just after the dam, hatching salmon and steelhead that were released back into the river.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Hatcheries/Iron-Gate|title = Iron Gate Fish Hatchery}}

A movement to Un-Dam the Klamath had been ongoing for 20 years to remove the dams.{{Cite web |last=Hartel |first=Diana |date=25 May 2011 |title=Doctor's Orders: Undam the Klamath |url=https://www.hcn.org/issues/43.8/doctors-orders-undam-the-klamath |access-date= |website=High Country News}}{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=22 October 2020 |title=Dams Are Threatening California Salmon and a Native Tribe's Culture |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ivyj0x3i3iE |access-date= |website=VICE News}} The Iron Gate Dam (National ID CN 001223),{{Cite web |title=USGS Current Conditions for USGS 11516530 KLAMATH R BL IRON GATE DAM CA |url=https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv/?site_no=11516530 |access-date=2022-04-30 |website=waterdata.usgs.gov}} along with the John C. Boyle Dam, were two of four on the Klamath River that would be removed under the Klamath Economic Restoration Act.Stillwater Sciences [http://news.opb.org/article/clock-ticking-klamath-dams/ A Preliminary Evaluation of the Potential Downstream Sediment Deposition Following the Removal of Iron Gate, Copco, and J.C. Boyle Dams, Klamath River, CA] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100209074938/http://news.opb.org/article/clock-ticking-klamath-dams/ |date=2010-02-09 }} Final Report Prepared for American Rivers, May 2004. As of February 2016, the states of Oregon and California, the dam owners, federal regulators, and other parties reached an agreement to remove all four dams by the year 2020, pending approval by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.{{cite web|url=http://www.sfgate.com/nation/article/New-plan-to-remove-Klamath-River-dams-without-6801869.php|title=New plan to remove Klamath River dams without help from Congress|author=Carolyn Lochhead|date=3 February 2016|work=SFGate}} On February 25, 2022, the FERC released its final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on the dam's removal.

The Iron Gate Dam was removed in 2024.{{Cite web |title=FERC Staff Issues the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Hydropower License Surrender and Decommissioning of the Lower Klamath Project No. 14803 (P-14803-001) {{!}} Federal Energy Regulatory Commission |url=https://www.ferc.gov/news-events/news/ferc-staff-issues-draft-environmental-impact-statement-hydropower-license |access-date=2022-04-30 |website=www.ferc.gov |language=en}} On January 11, 2024, the bypass tunnel at the dam was opened to drain the reservoir, in anticipation of the dam's removal which began on May 3 and was completed in October.{{Cite news |last=Neumann |first=Erik |date=13 January 2024 |title=No turning back: The largest dam removal in U.S. history begins |url=https://www.npr.org/2024/01/12/1224494403/klamath-river-begins-to-flow-again-with-dam-removal-project |access-date=13 January 2024 |work=NPR}}{{Cite web |date=2024-05-03 |title=As dismantling of largest dam begins on Klamath River, activists see 'new beginning' |url=https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2024-05-03/dismantling-of-largest-dam-begins-on-klamath-river |access-date=2024-05-24 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}https://www.gov.ca.gov/2024/10/02/klamath-river-dams-fully-removed-ahead-of-schedule/https://lostcoastoutpost.com/2024/oct/2/and-after-photos-klamath-hydropower-dams-are-all-g/