Klamath River Renewal Restores Way For Salmon To Run Upstream

After two decades of persistent advocacy and legal battles, a monumental transformation is underway along California’s Klamath River. In a historic endeavor, the largest dam removal project in history is restoring the river to its natural state.

In collaboration with tribal nations, four hydroelectric dams are being dismantled, paving the way for wild Pacific salmon to reclaim their ancient migratory routes. These fish, absent from these waters for a century, will soon swim upstream to spawn, marking a significant ecological revival.

Recently, the Klamath River Renewal Corporation commenced the preparation of a river stretch, allowing it to flow freely for the first time in a hundred years. The removal of the Klamath Hydroelectric Project, which hindered fish passage and disrupted the river’s natural flow, is a momentous step toward restoring the Klamath River to its pristine condition.

The construction of the Copco No. 2 dam in 1925 diverted the river, leading to the colonization of the riverbed by a dense stand of trees within a steep canyon. This alteration profoundly affected the ecosystem and held cultural significance for the Shasta Indian Nation. To address this, the Yurok Tribe joined forces to clear specific trees, such as alder and cottonwood, from the river corridor while preserving all floodplain vegetation, thus honoring the delicate balance of nature in this sacred place.

“It fills my heart to know that salmon will migrate through this river reach on their way to spawn in the upper basin,” Yurok Vice Chairman Frankie Myers said. “For the last century, we have watched the dams suffocate the life out of the river (and) I would like to thank the KRRC and the Shasta Indian Nation for the opportunity to help our salmon runs and our river recover for our children and the next generations.”

In June 2023, the Klamath dam removal initiative commenced its construction phase following approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Construction crews began the process of dismantling Copco No. 2 dam, set to be fully removed by September’s end. The removal of Iron Gate, JC Boyle, and Copco No. 1 dams is scheduled for the following year, marking the largest salmon restoration project in history.

“Seeing the revitalization of this river canyon is incredible,”Mark Bransom, CEO of the Renewal Corporation, excitedly declared.

Before the construction of the dams, the Klamath River thrived with a population of one million spring and fall Chinook (king salmon) and abundant steelhead trout, sturgeon, Pacific lamprey, and various other native fish species. However, this fall, it is anticipated that only 25,000 Chinook will return to the river.

Fortunately, with the removal of the dams, fisheries experts anticipate a gradual increase in fish numbers. This positive trend is expected due to the restored access to historical spawning grounds and the overall improvement in the ecosystem’s health.

The presence of the four dams had blocked salmon from reaching hundreds of miles of their natural habitat, leading to water quality degradation and the proliferation of fish diseases. Scientific studies and experiences from dam removal projects in other watersheds have shown that removing dams can reverse these detrimental effects.

The ongoing demolition work this month not only marks a return to the ancestral ways of life for the various tribes along the Klamath River but also promises a significant boost in commercial salmon fishing. Currently, the salmon runs are at less than 5% of their historical abundance, making this restoration effort crucial for both the environment and the communities relying on the river.

“The Klamath salmon are coming home,” Yurok Chairman Joseph James announced. “The people have earned this victory and with it, we carry on our sacred duty to the fish that have sustained our people since the beginning of time.”