Salmon will soon swim freely in the Klamath River for the first time in more than a century as the largest dam removal project in U.S. history nears completion.
Hallie Golden reports for The Associated Press.
In short:
- Crews are breaching dams along the Klamath River to restore the natural flow, just in time for the fall Chinook salmon spawning season.
- The dam removal is part of a broader effort to restore river ecosystems across the U.S., with more than 2,000 dams removed so far.
- Tribes and environmental groups have long advocated for this project to revive dwindling fish populations.
Key quote:
"Seeing the river being restored to its original channel and that dam gone, it’s a good omen for our future."
— Leaf Hillman, ceremonial leader of the Karuk Tribe
Why this matters:
Restoring the Klamath River will help revive salmon populations vital to local tribes and ecosystems. However, it may take years for the river and fish populations to fully recover.
