A long-awaited study on raising the height of Shasta Dam and increasing the size of the 70-year-old reservoir was released to Congress Wednesday.
The report, and its recommendations, could pave the way for legislative action and appropriations to someday make an enlarged reservoir a reality.
The preferred alternative would see the 602-foot-tall dam rise another 18.5 feet. Such a move would increase the reservoir’s maximum capacity by more than 600,000 acre-feet to 5.1 million. The proposal is estimated to cost $1.2 billion.
However, many hurdles remain. Bureau spokeswoman Erin Curtis said money, endangered species and the lack of an endorsement from the secretary of interior means the saga is far from over.
The enlarged dam would provide additional water and hydro-power. It would also aid struggling populations of Chinook salmon and Steelhead by enabling better management of river temperatures.
Some local tribal leaders have condemned raising the dam, saying it would inundate sacred cultural sites, a fact the bureau acknowledged. Plant and wildlife habitat would also be lost. Roads, railroads and several bridges would have to be moved.
If approvals are lined up and all issues resolved, construction could begin in the 2020s.