Program to Focus on Dam Construction

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – The early history of development of hydroelectric plants on the Klamath River will be examined in a presentation scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, April 25.

The program will be offered during a meeting of the Klamath County Historical Society in the back meeting room of the Klamath County Museum, 1451 Main Street. It is free and open to anyone interested.

Tim Hemstreet, vice president of renewable energy development for PacifiCorp, will describe the role the dams played in expansion of the electric grid in Southern Oregon and Norther California.

Four major hydroelectric plants were constructed on the Klamath River by the California Oregon Power Company, a forerunner of PacifiCorp. All four dams are now in the process of being removed.

“We’ve heard a lot recently about the pros and cons of removing the dams,” said Bea Naylor, president of the Historical Society. “Our focus with this program will be to review how vital the dams originally were to the region’s economy at the time they were built.”

The presentation will be streamed live on the Klamath County Museum’s Facebook page.

For more information call (541) 882-1000.