The Klamath River, a vital lifeline for the Yurok Tribe of Northern California, has experienced a profound transformation. For the first time in nearly a century, the river is flowing freely without the obstruction of four major dams, marking the completion of the largest dam removal project in U.S. history. While the removal of these dams is a major victory, the real work for the Yurok Tribe has just begun.
Brooke Thompson, a member of the Karuk and Yurok tribes, has spent her life fishing on the Klamath River. For her and many others in her community, the river is not just a source of water; it is a central part of their cultural and physical sustenance. “The river was our grocery store,” Thompson recalls. But in 2002, a catastrophic fish kill changed everything. “I saw thousands of salmon carcasses piled up on the shoreline. It was catastrophic,” she says.
The Klamath River’s plight was directly linked to four dams—J.C. Boyle, Copco 1, Copco 2, and Iron Gate—owned by PacifiCorp, an electric utility company. These structures blocked the river’s natural flow and disrupted the migration of salmon, causing a massive decline in populations. The Yurok tribe, known as the “salmon people,” saw their once abundant fisheries disappear. The dams’ effects weren’t limited to fish; they also affected water quality and temperature, leading to health warnings and a decline in cultural practices.
A Long Road to Dam Removal
The struggle to remove the dams began in the 1990s, with the Yurok tribe taking the lead. Their fight was not only about restoring the river’s ecological balance, but also about reclaiming their cultural heritage and way of life. Removing the dams was considered a life-or-death issue for the tribe, as the health of the river was tied to their survival.
After decades of activism and negotiations, the final dam was removed in August 2024, completing a project that took more than 30 years to realize. “We were told it would never happen,” Thompson says. “We were asking for four dams, and people said it was impossible.”
The Klamath River Basin, spanning 12,000 square miles, was once a critical habitat for salmon. Removing the dams opened up more than 400 miles of the river, allowing the fish to reach their historic breeding grounds for the first time in a century. This important milestone is the result of a complex and costly process, estimated to cost $450 million, involving federal, state, tribal, and local stakeholders.
A New Beginning for the River
With the removal of the dams, a remarkable transformation has begun in the Klamath River. The river’s flow has returned to its natural state, and the once-constrained water is now carrying away debris accumulated over decades. “The river is starting to do its own thing,” says Oscar Gensaw, a Yurok Tribe member and fisherman. “It’s letting the river repair itself, and that’s the best thing for us.”
Removing the dams, however, is just the beginning of a long restoration process. The areas previously occupied by the reservoirs, now exposed for the first time in more than a century, require extensive ecological restoration. “Restoring the land is another challenge,” says Thompson. The restoration effort includes replanting native vegetation, managing invasive species, and ensuring the long-term health of the river’s ecosystem.
Seeds of Recovery
The Yurok Tribe has launched an ambitious restoration project involving the planting of 18 billion native seeds. This massive effort began with the collection of seeds from 98 species, which were propagated and stored until they were ready for planting. Seeds including wheat grass, yarrow and oak trees are vital for stabilizing soils, supporting native vegetation and providing a food source for wildlife.
Joshua Chenoweth, the tribe’s senior riparian ecologist, explains the complexity of the restoration process. “Anything we introduced had to be genetically suitable and derived from nearby watersheds,” he says. The team faced several challenges, including adverse weather conditions and the need for high seed diversity. Despite these obstacles, early results are promising. Areas where seeds were planted are already showing signs of improvement with flourishing plants and increased wildlife activity.
The road ahead is not without challenges. Restoration efforts will continue for several more years with continued monitoring and maintenance to ensure the project’s success. Success criteria include species richness, vegetation cover and a lack of invasive species.
For the Yurok Tribe, this project represents a significant step in reclaiming their ancestral lands and cultural practices. Thompson reflects on the trip with both a sense of accomplishment and cautious optimism. “Growing up, dams felt like these huge, immovable objects. But watching them fall has been a powerful experience,” she says.