Home / Environment / Salmon Return: Dams Gone, River Roars Back to Life
Salmon Return: Dams Gone, River Roars Back to Life
8 Jul
Summary
- World's largest dam removal project completed in October 2024.
- Salmon swim upstream for the first time in over a century.
- Indigenous Yurok families led the generations-long restoration campaign.
More than a century after four dams obstructed its flow, the Klamath River is once again alive with salmon. The completion of the world's largest dam removal project in October 2024 has opened historic upstream habitats. This landmark event follows decades of ecological decline and a persistent, multi-generational campaign led by Indigenous Yurok families.
The Yurok people consider the Klamath River central to their culture and survival, with salmon sustaining their community for generations. The removal of four hydroelectric dams, the first built in 1918, began after a devastating fish kill in 2002. This ecological disaster spurred renewed advocacy, with figures like Amy Bowers Cordalis emerging as key leaders.
After over two decades of negotiations, the federal government approved dam removal in 2022, with demolition concluding in October 2024. The collaborative effort involved tribal nations, agencies, conservation groups, and the dam owner. Almost immediately, salmon were observed migrating beyond the former dam sites, reclaiming ancestral spawning grounds.
This restoration represents a significant triumph for environmental collaboration, Indigenous leadership, and scientific efforts. The Klamath River's revival offers a powerful example of how persistent advocacy can reverse extensive ecological damage and foster resilience in the face of climate challenges.
