For years, the state of California has been preparing for a groundbreaking environmental restoration project: the removal of dams along the Klamath River.
This effort, which stands as the largest dam removal project in the world, aims to return the river to its natural flow, allowing it to carve its way through the landscape as it had for millennia.
Now, with the project nearing completion, stunning images and reports from the Klamath River region are highlighting the transformation. These glimpses into the river’s revival showcase not just the physical changes but also the cultural and ecological renewal taking place.
“The dams that have divided the basin are now gone, and the river is free,” said Frankie Myers, vice chairman of the Yurok Tribe, in a tribal news release from late August.
“Our sacred duty to our children, our ancestors, and for ourselves, is to take care of the river, and today’s events represent a fulfillment of that obligation,” Myers adds.
Iron Gate Dam “before” photo:
Iron Gate Dam “after” photo:
For the Yurok Tribe, who have lived along the Klamath River for countless generations, this moment is the culmination of decades of effort. Their campaign to dismantle the dams was driven by a deep commitment to restoring the river that sustains their cultural and spiritual identity.
The Klamath River has faced decades of ecological challenges due to the construction of dams that disrupted its natural flow and created artificial reservoirs. When the initial dam removals began, the river was turbid and brown, its waters clouded with sediment and algae that had accumulated in the reservoirs. However, according to Ren Brownell, public information officer for the Klamath River Renewal Corporation, these conditions are temporary.
“The water quality will improve over a short time span as the river normalizes,” Brownell explained, emphasizing that this is a transitional phase in the river’s recovery.
JC Boyle Dam “before” photo:
JC Boyle Dam “after” photo:
One of the most exciting aspects of the project is the potential return of salmon and steelhead to the Klamath River.
“I think in September, we may have some Chinook salmon and steelhead moseying upstream and checking things out for the first time in over 60 years,” said Bob Pagliuco, a marine habitat resource specialist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
These fish, which once thrived in the river’s ecosystem, had been blocked from reaching their spawning grounds by the dams. Now, with the barriers removed, experts predict a gradual resurgence in fish populations over the next decade.
Remarkably, the project has been nearly completed on schedule and under budget, a testament to the collaboration and dedication of those involved. The removal of the Iron Gate and Copco 1 dams represents a major milestone.
While small “cofferdams” used during the original construction of the main dams still need to be removed, the Klamath River now flows freely from Lake Ewauna in Klamath Falls, Oregon, to the Pacific Ocean for the first time since the dams were built between 1903 and 1962.
“This is a monumental achievement—not just for the Klamath River but for our entire state, nation, and planet,” declared Governor Gavin Newsom in a statement.
“By taking down these outdated dams, we are giving salmon and other species a chance to thrive once again, while also restoring an essential lifeline for tribal communities who have long depended on the health of the river.”
The project’s completion is not the end of the journey but the beginning of a new chapter for the river and its ecosystems.
“We had a really incredible moment to share with tribes as we watched the final cofferdams be broken,” Brownell said to SFGATE. “So we’ve officially returned the river to its historic channel at all the dam sites. But the work continues.”
NOAA’s research underscores the broader ecological implications of this restoration. According to biologist Tommy Williams, the dams not only disrupted the river’s flow but also simplified its habitat, making it harder for salmon and steelhead to adapt to environmental changes. “When you simplify the habitat as we did with the dams, salmon can’t express the full range of their life-history diversity,” Williams noted.
By restoring the river’s natural complexity, the project is helping these fish regain their resilience. “The environment throughout the historical range of Pacific salmon and steelhead is very dynamic. Fires, floods, earthquakes—you name it. These fish not only deal with it well, it’s required for their survival. Through this, they develop the capacity to deal with environmental changes.”
In the coming years, the Klamath River’s transformation will continue to unfold. From revitalized ecosystems to thriving fish populations and strengthened tribal connections, this monumental effort marks a turning point for one of California’s most iconic waterways. The restoration of the Klamath River is not just about removing dams—it is about restoring life.
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