Rewilding the Klamath River
The Largest Dam Removal Project in History
The removal of four dams along the Klamath returned the river to its original course, but that’s just the beginning. Further restoration efforts will help return Salmon to their historic habitat.
An Ambitious Plan to Restore an Environment
October 2024 marked the end of an epic dam removal project and the beginning of a new era on the Klamath River. In total, four dams were dismantled in Oregon and California, returning the Klamath to its historic course and opening hundreds of miles of blocked river habitat to salmon and trout. It was the largest dam removal project in history.
The four aging hydroelectric dams would each require extensive repairs and upgrades to continue to provide power. The expense of that work, however, made their continued use impractical at best. Compared to the benefits of removing the dams, most stakeholders agreed that freeing the river would be a better option, one that would bring exciting new opportunities.
Why It Matters
For Oregon, the importance of this project can’t be overstated. The Klamath River is vital to our region’s Native American tribes, who rely on its fish stocks for their cultural and spiritual practices. The project is also expected to boost local economies by enhancing recreational opportunities such as fishing, rafting, and tourism. The improved water quality will benefit not only the aquatic life but also the agricultural communities that depend on the river for irrigation. Overall, the Klamath Dam removal project is a crucial initiative for restoring the river’s natural ecosystem and supporting the many communities that depend on it.
Building a Base Layer
The dams made life all but impossible for fish. Their deep, still reservoirs raised water temperatures, leading to algae blooms, decreased oxygen and, ultimately, fish kills. The restoration of a naturally flowing river eliminated these problematic conditions.
But there’s more to a healthy riparian environment than the water itself. As the reservoirs emptied and the water returned to its historic river channels, the newly exposed mud of the reservoir bottoms could have easily been colonized by invasive plant species. The establishment of native plant colonies to prevent invasive growth was of paramount importance. These plants served as the base layer on which a healthy new ecosystem could be built.
Results
Have the Salmon Returned?
After the final dam was removed, the question became, how long would it take for salmon to return to the upper reaches of the Klamath watershed in Oregon? The answer was surprising!
They’re Back
Only four months after the river was declared free-flowing, wild Chinook salmon were spotted in Oregon’s Spencer Creek (one of the furthest tributaries in the Klamath River Watershed) for the first time in more than a century. By the end of October, at least five ocean-going Chinook had joined fishery-released salmon in the creek. These hardy fish made their way some 230 miles up the river from the Pacific Ocean to spawn in their historic habitat.
Welcome home!
This is an awesome blessing to have our sacred salmon returning to our aboriginal territory!— Klamath Tribes Chairman William Ray Jr.
Your Lottery Play Helps Oregon Habitats
A project of this scale required participation and funding from many partners. At an estimated cost of $446 million, the project, despite its size, came in on time and under budget. Major contributors included PacificCorp (the owner of the four dams), Klamath River Renewal Corporation, and the states of California and Oregon.
Oregon’s contribution included $15 million of Oregon Lottery proceeds that were provided by the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB). The lottery dollars helped fund post-dam restoration and replanting — exactly the sort of work that Oregon voters envisioned when they extended lottery support to natural habitat restoration and preservation in 1998.
Thanks to your lottery play, a historic restoration project has been completed and will continue to bring benefits to Oregon — its fish, its water quality, and, most of all, its people.
Together, we do good things.
Our thanks to Swiftwater Films
A special thank-you to Swiftwater Films for providing the photos and video footage featured here.
Swiftwater Films is currently producing a feature-length film on the Klamath Dam removal project. They have filmed with tribes, scientists, ranchers, fishermen and conservationists in the Pacific Northwest, Northern California and Alaska to tell stories highlighting how science and indigenous perspectives are reshaping land, water and resource management in the era of climate change. Learn more at their website:
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