In a historic ecological restoration effort, salmon will soon navigate freely along the Klamath River for the first time in over a century. The largest dam removal project in US history is nearly complete on the California-Oregon border. Crews are currently dismantling rock dams diverting water upstream of the Iron Gate and Copco No. 1 dams, facilitating the river's return to its original channel just in time for the fall Chinook salmon spawning season.
Leaf Hillman, ceremonial leader of the Karuk Tribe, expressed optimism about the restoration, stating it is "a good omen for our future." The removal of these dams aligns with a national trend to restore rivers and ecosystems disrupted by hydroelectric structures. In the last quarter-century, over 2,000 dams in the US have been dismantled, including notable ones on Washington's Elwha River and the White Salmon River.
The Klamath River, once the third-largest salmon producer on the West Coast, saw significant salmon population declines after the construction of dams by PacifiCorp from 1918 to 1962. The dismantling of these dams is anticipated to aid the river's ecological recovery, though experts caution that the process will take time. Michael Belchik of the Yurok Tribe remains hopeful for early successes, asserting that "if not this year, then for sure next year" fish will traverse the newly unobstructed waterways. The ambitious project cost approximately $500 million. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)
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