Klamath River dam removal restores salmon habitat in October

In the United States, the Klamath River dam removal project, which began in July 2023, concluded on October 2, 2024. This monumental effort, described as the world's largest dam removal, was initiated to restore the river's natural flow and improve the migratory routes for fish, particularly the Chinook salmon. The project was the result of a decades-long struggle led by local tribes, including the Yurok and Karuk, who sought to dismantle the dams built by PacifiCorp between 1903 and 1962. These dams had severely disrupted the river's ecosystem, leading to significant fish deaths and environmental degradation. The removal of the dams is expected to have a profound impact on the local ecosystem, allowing salmon and other species to thrive once again. Just a day after the project was completed, scientists observed a 2.5-foot-long Chinook salmon migrating upstream for the first time in over a century. This event highlights the immediate positive effects of the dam removal on fish populations and the river's health. California Governor Gavin Newsom praised the project as a significant achievement for the state and the planet, emphasizing its importance for tribal communities that rely on the river's health. However, experts caution that while the dam removal is a critical step, it will take many years for the ecosystems affected by the dams to fully recover. Overall, the Klamath River dam removal represents a significant victory for environmentalists and indigenous communities, marking a new chapter in the restoration of one of California's vital waterways.