The Klamath's been the subject of several distressing posts lately, and this - sadly - is no exception.

A MidCurrent link to the Contra Costa Times reminded me that Pacificorp is attempting to circumvent the addition of fish ladders, hoping instead to implement a cheaper (and highly questionable) "trap and truck" method of moving salmon upriver (which also means trucking smolts downriver, a strategy that hasn't worked elsewhere).

None of this is exactly new - and there's still hope they'll bring down the dams - but it's a nice illustration of how you can't wander around the mountains, fish all weekend long, go home nice and contented, and then stay that way after reading the news.

I'll leave you another Underground image - this one taken on my last trip to the Upper Klamath. Brown foam. Ick.


The pristine trout river you envision while falling asleep? Let's hope the Klamath catches a break.

klamath, fish ladder, pacificorp, dams, chinook, salmon