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Oregon seeks retroactive Bureau of Reclamation funding to restore fish passage at Keno Dam
Summary
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife requested retroactive approval to apply for $4.5 million from the Bureau of Reclamation to repair and redesign fish passage at Keno Dam in the Klamath Basin, including an initial $100,000 planning phase to develop a multi‑agency work plan and stakeholder engagement.
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife asked the Joint Subcommittee on Natural Resources on Jan. 28 for retroactive approval to apply for a $4.5 million Bureau of Reclamation grant to restore fish passage at Keno Dam in the Klamath Basin.
Craig Smith, senior policy analyst with the department, said the grant would support three phases: an initial $100,000 planning phase to develop a work plan and stakeholder engagement approach; near‑term repairs to the existing 1968 fish ladder to address leaking concrete and inefficient flow; and a longer‑term redesign to meet the needs of federally listed species and community waterfront needs. "Following the removal of four of the dams on the lower Klamath River, there is now an opportunity to provide access for endangered species act listed coho salmon, as well as two listed species, the Lost River sucker and the short nose sucker," Smith said, and he also noted culturally important species such as lamprey that are currently blocked by Keno Dam.
Smith described immediate infrastructure needs — degraded concrete, leaks and gates and screens needing replacement — and said phase 1 would create designs and cost estimates that the Bureau of Reclamation would review before releasing the remainder of the award. He estimated that less than $1 million in nonfederal match might be required for construction and identified potential match sources including land-value contributions from PacifiCorp property transfers and state grant programs pursued with NGO partners.
Committee members emphasized tribal engagement and local partnerships; Rep. David Hartman encouraged including Klamath tribal entities and local stakeholders in planning. The Chief Financial Office and the Legislative Fiscal Office recommended approval. The committee moved and approved the LFO recommendation by voice; no roll-call tally was recorded in the transcript. A committee member volunteered to carry the item to full committee.
The request on Jan. 28 asked only for authorization to apply or to ratify the administrative submission; it did not commit state construction funds. Smith said subsequent phases and any required match would be clarified after engineering designs and cost estimates are completed.
