Tribes lead historic effort to remove dams from the Klamath River
The largest dam removal project in U.S. history has cleared 420 miles of California and Oregon's Klamath River, restoring crucial habitats and fisheries once devastated by hydroelectric development.
Liz Kimbrough reports for Mongabay.
In short:
- Four dams built between 1918 and 1964 were removed to restore salmon runs blocked for over a century, part of a $450 million effort.
- The removal stems from decades of tribal activism, as the Yurok, Karuk and Klamath tribes worked to repair their cultural and ecological connections to the river.
- Experts predict coho and chinook salmon populations will fully recover within 20 years, with salmon already spawning in areas long inaccessible.
Key quote:
“The dams were like a blockage in the river’s arteries. They stopped the flow of life, not just for the fish, but for our people too.”
— Ron Reed, a traditional Karuk fisherman and cultural fire practitioner
Why this matters:
Restoring the Klamath River benefits not only endangered species like coho salmon but also the cultural and economic health of local Native communities who depend on these fisheries. It demonstrates how Indigenous leadership can address environmental and historical injustices.
