Undamming the Klamath

What's at stake in America's biggest-ever river restoration?

Dams have long been used to produce power and water for agriculture, but they can devastate river ecosystems. In a major victory for environmentalists and Native American communities, four aging hydroelectric dams on the Klamath River along the California/Oregon border will be removed starting in 2023. The largest dam removal and river restoration project ever attempted in the United States will open up more than 600 kilometers of habitat for migratory fish.

Episode One

For Native American tribes living along the Klamath River, salmon are both central to cultural traditions and an important food source. As populations of migratory fish declined, tribal members joined with environmentalists to fight for the removal of dams that prevent fish migration and destroy habitat.

For the Yurok people whose tribal lands extend 64 kilometers along the Klamath, salmon is a primary food source and an integral part of their culture. But the tribe estimates that salmon runs are only 10% of what they once were. / Credit: Matt Dibble, VOA News Salmon and the Klamath River ecosystem have become threatened by a host of problems originating far up river. / Credit: Matt Dibble, VOA News Toxic algae blooms, one of the factors biologists say are killing fish in the river. / Credit: Matt Dibble, VOA News

Copco No 1 Dam

Dam Height
70 meters
Water Storage
74,000,000,000+ liters
Year Completed
1922
Hazard Potential
High
Last Inspection Date
Sept. 30, 2020

Episode Two

Not everyone is celebrating the decision to remove the Klamath dams. Some in the drought-stricken region worry about losing beloved lakes that have long been used for recreation and fire-fighting as well as generating electricity.

Chrissie Reynolds, Copco Lake resident. / Credit: Matt Dibble, VOA News Barbara and Roy Austin, Copco Lake residents. / Credit: Matt Dibble, VOA News Copco Lake, located in Northern California / Credit: Matt Dibble, VOA News

Copco No 2 Dam

Dam Height
11.5 meters
Water Storage
90,000,000+ liters
Year Completed
1925
Hazard Potential
Low
Last Inspection Date
May 18, 2018

Episode Three

What happens when you release 170 billion liters of water? Engineers and biologists are working on strategies to release water and tons of accumulated sediment without damaging the species they are trying to save. More than 1,000 hectares of land will be uncovered, and tribal crews are already at work collecting more than 90,000 kilograms of native seeds that will be needed to revegetate the landscape.

Member of the Yurok Tribe Native Seed Crew holding native grass. / Credit: Yurok Tribe Member of the Yurok Tribe Native Seed Crew collecting native plant seeds. / Credit: Yurok Tribe Traditional Yurok redwood canoes. Credit: Matt Dibble, VOA News 

Iron Gate Dam

Dam Height
53 meters
Water Storage
71,500,000,000+ liters
Year Completed
1962
Hazard Potential
High
Last Inspection Date
Sept. 30, 2020

Episode Four

Will migrating salmon return to the Klamath River once four dams are removed? Plans for restoring that ecosystem benefit from what has been learned since dams were removed along Washington State’s Elwha River eight years ago. In the fourth of our four-part series, Matt Dibble visits the Elwha to see how it is recovering.

2014 aerial photo of the Elwha River after two dams were removed in 2011 and 2014. / Credit: AP Removal work on the Elwha River in 2012. / Credit: Reuters Restoration teams planting trees along the Elwha River / Credit: U.S. Geological Survey

John C Boyle Dam

Dam Height
21 meters
Water Storage
4,150,000,000
Year Completed
1958
Hazard Potential
High
Last Inspection Date
Sept. 30, 2020

Credits

Reporter, Photographer and Video Editor
Matt Dibble
Animation and Graphics
Mark Sandeen
Web Design/Development
Dino Beslagic, Stephen Mekosh
Special Thanks
Mia Bush, Michelle Quinn, Scott Stearns, and the interview contributors who took time to share their stories with us
Drone Footage
Michael Wier / CalTrout