Dam removal restores salmon habitat on Klamath River
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In 2024, authorities in the United States completed the demolition of four dams on the Klamath River, which flows through southern Oregon and northern California, opening 640 kilometers of habitat.
For over a century, the Iron Gate, Copco N.º 1, Copco N.º 2, and J.C. Boyle dams blocked the migration of Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha). Years of negotiation between Indigenous peoples, environmental organizations, government agencies, and PacifiCorp led to the dam removal project.
The demolition allowed Chinook salmon to regain access to 88% of their historical range. Before the dams came down, members of the Yurok tribe collected native plant seeds starting in 2019, preparing to replant areas exposed when the reservoirs drained. Researchers will continue to monitor the Klamath River, studying the salmon’s reproduction, juvenile survival rates, and population changes over the coming years to determine if the recovery is sustainable.
They also acknowledge that sediment buildup and water quality will influence the salmon’s reproductive success, and that dam removal alone doesn’t solve all environmental problems in the watershed.
