College of Forestry

Watershed Processes Group

2025 Bretz Club Conference and Field Trip

Copco Reservoir March 14, 2024 courtesy of Jack Zunka

Geomorphic responses of dam removal on the Klamath River
Klamath Outdoor Science School

 

April 25-26, 2025

(April 24 arrival dinner optional and included when you register in advance)

This year the scientific program will focus on the geomorphic responses of the Klamath River to the 2024 removal of the four large main-stem dams of the Klamath Hydroelectric Project. On the field trip, we will explore the processes, forms, and curiosities revealed by the exposure of over 2000 acres of former reservoir and a free-flowing Klamath River. 

REGISTRATION IS OPEN!  Click here to register.

Fees for Professionals: $200

Fees for Students: $100 (you will be asked to help the organizers)

Registration is open until April 9 or earlier if we reach capacity

Conference Agenda:

Thursday, April 24th:  

4-6 pm Arrival and check-in

6 pm Dinner (pre-registration required for dinner)

Friday, April 25th

7:30-8:30 am Breakfast, continued check-in, carpooling guidance

8:30-9 am Welcome and introductions

9-10:15 am Jack Zunka, SWCA, Inc. – “Building up to tearing ‘em down: Investigations to support the removal of the Klamath River Dams

10:15-10:30 am Break

10:30-11:45 am Desiree Tullos, Oregon State University – “Patterns in reservoir erosion on the Klamath and coupled responses in water quality and primary production"

11:45-12:45 pm Lunch / Raffle and Auction items on display.  Buy tickets!

12:45-2:30 pm Poster session in yurt, optional KOSS tour ~2pm

3:30-4:45 pm Patrick Haluska, USGS – “Estimating dam removal induced sediment transport regime change on the Klamath River from the former reservoir reach to the estuary

5-5:30 pm Important discussion about departure schedules for Field Trip and organizational needs!

6-7 pm Dinner

7-8ish pm Pop-ups

8-? pm Raffle, silent auction, music, singing, dancing, merriment

Saturday, April 26th: Field trip to dam removal sites!  All times are currently rough estimates and may be weather dependent.  If you plan to do the full field trip (as opposed to heading out earlier), you may want to find overnight lodging near southern Oregon

7-7:30 am Breakfast, clean facility, grab sack lunch, gather for first leg of trip

~11 am Consolidate cars at Chevron in Hornbrook, CA

~11:30 am Leave Chevron

~12 pm Arrive at first field site and eat lunch

~1-2:30 pm Arrive at second field site

? Third field site

Carpooling will be needed for the Saturday field trip.  Please come prepared to share and know in advance what time (roughly) you will need to start heading out of the field.  This will help with logistics.

Field Trip Guide will be available to download before the conference (linked on this page). We will let you know when it is ready.  Please print a copy for yourself.  We will only have one or two available on site.

Some images to whet your appetite and an article on Rewilding the Klamath.

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IG Narrows
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Copco blocks and floodplain forest