Klamath River Renewal Corporation

What Klamath River Renewal Corporation does

The Klamath River Renewal Corporation (KRRC) is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation founded in 2016 under the amended Klamath Hydroelectric Settlement Agreement (KHSA) for the sole purpose of taking ownership of four PacifiCorp-owned hydroelectric dams on the Klamath River—J.C. Boyle, Copco No. 1, Copco No. 2, and Iron Gate—and removing them, restoring formerly inundated lands, and implementing required mitigation measures. KRRC completed the removal of all four dams in 2024, executing the largest dam removal in U.S. history and restoring over 400 miles of historic fish habitat on the Klamath River. Its service offerings are non-commercial and project-specific: dam decommissioning, reservoir and riparian restoration, environmental monitoring (water quality, sediment, harmful algal blooms), fire management infrastructure, water infrastructure replacement (e.g., the City of Yreka waterline), and recreation access development.

KRRC does not operate a commercial revenue model; it is a single-purpose project entity funded by PacifiCorp ratepayer surcharges (capped at $200 million for ratepayers under the KHSA) and California Proposition 1 water bond funds, supplemented by tax-deductible charitable donations. Total project budget is $450 million, with current GMP-based cost estimates of $446 million and a P80 risk-loaded estimate of $434 million. Primary contractors include Kiewit Infrastructure West ($199 million design-build GMP), Resource Environmental Solutions ($78 million restoration GMP), and McMillen Jacobs Associates (owner's representation).

KRRC's stakeholders comprise the States of Oregon and California as co-licensees, the Yurok and Karuk Tribes, FERC as regulator, multiple conservation groups (American Rivers, California Trout, Trout Unlimited), and PacifiCorp. It is governed by a Board of Directors with seats appointed by the governors of California (5) and Oregon (4), the two tribes (1 each), conservation groups (2), and fishing associations (1). Upon completion of restoration, KRRC is contractually required to transfer project lands to the States of California and Oregon.

Name

Klamath River Renewal Corporation

Legal name

Klamath River Renewal Corporation

Website

https://klamathrenewal.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Klamath River Renewal Corporation (KRRC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that removed four hydroelectric dams from the Klamath River—the largest dam removal in U.S. history—funded by PacifiCorp ratepayer surcharges and California Proposition 1 water bond funds.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Restoration Services

NAICS

Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213)

SIC

Water, Sewer, Pipeline, Comm & Power Line Construction (1623)

akta.pro primary industry

Hydropower Decommissioning, Dam Removal & Site Restoration (EUAMADAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Design & Engineering for Renewal/Expansion (Pipelines, Pump Stations, Treatment Plants) (EUANALAD)

Keywords

• Dam removal services
• River restoration
• Environmental remediation
• Watershed restoration
• Habitat rehabilitation

Headquarters

HQ city

Berkeley

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Charitable contributions and donations: KRRC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that accepts charitable donations from individuals who wish to support dam removal and river restoration efforts. Contributions are eligible for income-tax charitable deductions.
2. PacifiCorp customer surcharges: Primary source of project funding from PacifiCorp ratepayer surcharges as part of the Klamath Hydroelectric Settlement Agreement (KHSA). The KHSA caps the cost of dam removal to ratepayers at $200 million.
3. California Proposition 1 water bond funds: State of California funding through Proposition 1 water bond funds designated for water quality and environmental restoration projects.

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

KRRC is a nonprofit organization that took ownership of four PacifiCorp hydroelectric dams on the Klamath River (J.C. Boyle, Copco No. 1, Copco No. 2, and Iron Gate) and executed the largest dam removal in U.S. history, completed in 2024. The core offering is integrated dam decommissioning and river restoration, including reservoir restoration of formerly inundated lands, environmental monitoring, water quality improvement, and habitat rehabilitation spanning over 400 miles of historic fish habitat. KRRC also develops public recreation access sites and implements a comprehensive fire management plan for the restored Klamath Basin.

Product overview

The Klamath River Renewal Corporation (KRRC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization formed by the Klamath Hydroelectric Settlement Agreement to oversee the removal of four hydroelectric dams on the Klamath River and restore the river to a free-flowing condition. KRRC operates as a single-purpose entity offering integrated dam removal and river restoration services. The core offering is the Lower Klamath Project, which encompasses dam decommissioning (J.C. Boyle, Copco No. 1, Copco No. 2, and Iron Gate), reservoir restoration, environmental monitoring, recreation site development, and fire management services. The project represents the largest dam removal in U.S. history, completed in 2024, with ongoing restoration activities continuing for several years.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Dam Removal Services Removal of four hydroelectric dams (J.C. Boyle, Copco No. 1, Copco No. 2, and Iron Gate) from the Klamath River to restore free-flowing conditions and fish habitat. Delivered through Kiewit Infrastructure West Co. as the design-build contractor.
• River Restoration Services Restoration of formerly inundated reservoir lands, including revegetation with native species, sediment management, and ecosystem rehabilitation spanning over 20 miles of mainstem and tributary habitat. Delivered through Resource Environmental Solutions (RES) as the lead restoration contractor with a $78 million Guaranteed Maximum Price contract.
• Environmental Monitoring Services Comprehensive water quality monitoring including temperature, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, pH, conductivity, harmful algal blooms, nutrients, and sediment analysis before, during, and after dam removal activities.
• Recreation Access Services Development and management of five public recreation access sites along the restored Klamath River, including river access points, vault toilets, picnic areas, and parking facilities.
• Fire Management Plan Comprehensive fire management plan including monitored detection systems, dry hydrants, aerial river access points, and staged water tanks to maintain firefighting capabilities after dam removal.

Quantifiable outcome

• 400+ miles of historic fish habitat restored
• +3 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• State of CaliforniacoreOthers · 1 November 2020Co-licensee with KRRC and Oregon following the November 2020 Memorandum of Agreement. California Governor Gavin Newsom actively supported the agreement. Provides funding through Proposition 1 water bond funds and California Public Utilities Commission. Serves as co-licensee for FERC license to satisfy terms outlined by FERC.
• State of OregoncoreOthers · 1 November 2020Co-licensee with KRRC and California following the November 2020 Memorandum of Agreement. Oregon Governor Kate Brown was instrumental in the agreement. Provides funding through Oregon Public Utilities Commission and Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. Endorsed the Fire Management Plan for the project.
• Resource Environmental Solutions (RES)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 March 2020RES serves as KRRC's lead restoration contractor. Over the last decade, RES has helped clients successfully permit more than 2,800 projects, restoring more than 294 miles of stream, 58,024 acres of wetlands, and 9,100 acres of endangered species habitats. RES GMP is $78 million for restoration implementation and serving as the Liability Transfer Corporation.
• McMillen Jacobs AssociatescoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 February 2020McMillen Jacobs provides owner's representation services for the project. Has completed more than 150 projects over the past 10 years at hydropower and fisheries facilities. Fully qualified to advise on dam decommissioning, reservoir modifications, construction of fish hatcheries, water line replacements, and fish passage restoration. Mort McMillen serves as Program Manager.
• Kiewit Infrastructure West Co.coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 April 2019Kiewit was awarded the dam removal design-build contract. Has extensive experience including emergency reconstruction of Oroville Dam spillways and Folsom Dam Spillway Construction. The initial award authorized $18.1 million in preliminary services with GMP of $199 million for project implementation. Uses Progressive Design-Build delivery method.
• PacifiCorp (Berkshire Hathaway Energy)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2016PacifiCorp is the former dam owner that transferred ownership of the four lower Klamath hydroelectric dams to KRRC. Under the amended Klamath Hydroelectric Settlement Agreement (KHSA), PacifiCorp contributed to funding and agreed to transfer license responsibility for dam removal. PacifiCorp continued operating the dams until decommissioning. Warren Buffett expressed support for the dam removal project as Berkshire Hathaway Chairman.
• Yurok TribecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of two tribal nations that are signatories to the amended KHSA and have representation on KRRC's Board of Directors. Yurok Tribe has been advocating for dam removal for decades as salmon is central to their culture and subsistence. Chair Joseph James stated dam removal is 'a sacred duty' to bring balance to the Klamath River. Tribal members actively participated in preparing river reaches for post-dam removal flows.
• Karuk TribecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of two tribal nations that are signatories to the amended KHSA and have representation on KRRC's Board of Directors. Karuk Tribe Water Quality Department publishes near-real time water quality data on the Karuk Water Quality portal. Chair Russell 'Buster' Attebery expressed support for restoring the Klamath River for future generations.
• American RiverssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation organization and signatory to the amended KHSA. Part of the coalition that appoints two members to KRRC's Board of Directors. Collaborated on the 'Guardians of the River' documentary film.
• California TroutsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation organization and signatory to the amended KHSA. Part of the coalition that appoints two members to KRRC's Board of Directors.
• Trout UnlimitedsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation organization and signatory to the amended KHSA. Part of the coalition that appoints two members to KRRC's Board of Directors.
• Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)coreOthersFederal regulatory agency that oversees hydroelectric dam licensing. Approved the License Transfer Order in June 2021 transferring ownership from PacifiCorp to KRRC and states. Approved the License Surrender Order allowing decommissioning and removal of the four dams. Released Final Environmental Impact Statement in August 2022.
• Klamath TribessupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerKRRC conducted outreach and engagement with the Klamath Tribes regarding the project. Klamath Tribes representatives and elders from the Klamath Tribes and Modoc Nation participated in the moment the river broke through the cofferdam at JC Boyle Dam site, restoring fish passage.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• California Trout: California-focused salmonid conservation nonprofit with deep involvement in Klamath River restoration advocacy. Directly comparable mission on California salmon recovery and a KHSA signatory with board representation on KRRC, though smaller in scale.
• American Rivers: National river conservation nonprofit that advocates for dam removal and river restoration across the US. Directly comparable to KRRC's mission of restoring free-flowing rivers, and is a signatory to the Klamath Hydroelectric Settlement Agreement that created KRRC.
• Resource Environmental Solutions (RES): Largest ecological restoration company in the US, with 2,800+ permitted projects restoring 294+ miles of stream and 58,000+ acres of wetlands. Directly comparable as KRRC's restoration contractor and a peer in large-scale riverine restoration delivery, though structured as a for-profit firm.
• Trout Unlimited: Coldwater fisheries conservation nonprofit that actively advocates for dam removal and habitat restoration across the US. Directly comparable to KRRC's salmonid restoration mission; a Klamath Hydroelectric Settlement Agreement signatory with board representation on KRRC.

Broad incumbents

• Ducks Unlimited: Large wetland and waterfowl habitat conservation nonprofit executing large-scale restoration projects with multiple government and private partners. Comparable as a major conservation nonprofit with significant project execution capacity, though focused on wetland systems rather than river dam removal.
• The Nature Conservancy: One of the world's largest environmental nonprofits with significant freshwater and river restoration programs globally. Comparable as a large-scale conservation nonprofit executing complex multi-stakeholder restoration projects, though broader in scope than KRRC's single-purpose focus.
• Trust for Public Land: National land conservation nonprofit that acquires and transfers lands for conservation and public access, including riparian and riverine lands. Comparable as an organization that manages complex conservation land transactions and stakeholder alignments around water resources.

Emerging players

• National Fish and Wildlife Foundation: Major funder of fish and wildlife habitat restoration projects across the US, with similar large-scale project management and multi-stakeholder funding models. Comparable as an organization that channels capital toward dam removal and river restoration, though structured as a grantmaking body rather than project implementer.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCa3Ums8phOiCR8QF-JsEzCQ
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/klamath-river-renewal-corporation

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Klamath River Renewal Corporation