Historic Completion of the Largest Dam Removal in U.S. History

The Klamath River, which flows through Oregon and northern California, is flowing freely for the first time in over a century, marking the completion of the largest dam removal project in U.S. history. Four hydroelectric dams — Iron Gate, Copco 1 and 2, and JC Boyle — long seen as barriers to the health of the river’s ecosystem, have been demolished. 

For the Yurok and Karuk tribes, this is more than a technical or environmental achievement—it’s a vital step toward restoring a river central to their culture and way of life. 

Brook Thompson, a Yurok tribal member, recalls fishing on the Klamath since she could stand in a boat. “The river was our grocery store,” she says, highlighting how central it was to their daily lives. 

However, the 2002 fish die-off, which Thompson vividly remembers from her childhood, changed everything. "I saw thousands of their bodies piled up on the shoreline, I smelled their rotting flesh. It was apocalyptic," she recalls. The Iron Gate Dam, one of the four removed, had contributed to this catastrophe by lowering water flow to dangerous levels. 

The tribe has been fighting for this moment since the 1990s. "We were told it was never going to happen. That it was foolish to even ask for one removal. We were asking for four," says Thompson. Yet, against the odds, the final dam was demolished in August 2024, a momentous occasion for the tribes who see salmon as family. 

Mark Bransom, chief executive officer of the Klamath River Renewal Corporation, the nonprofit group created to oversee the project, said, “For the first time in over 100 years, the river is now back in its historical channel, and I think that was an extraordinarily profound moment for people to actually witness that — the reconnecting of a river.” 

The removal of these dams is expected to lead to a significant recovery of fish populations. In the next few decades, fall chinook salmon numbers are predicted to increase by up to 80%, according to projections. The river, which once saw salmon runs plummet by more than 90%, will now give salmon a chance to return to their traditional spawning grounds.

Ron Reed, a Karuk tribe member, describes the emotional weight of the event: "The salmon are going to their spawning grounds for the first time in 100 years. There’s a sense of pride. There’s a sense of health and wellness." 

It’s estimated that by 2061, the Chinook salmon population could increase by up to 81%, offering hope that the river’s ecosystem will eventually return to something close to its former abundance. 

Yet, the journey doesn’t end with the removal of the dams. The tribe is now turning its focus to restoring 2,200 acres of newly exposed land, previously submerged under the dam reservoirs. Thompson, who is also a civil engineer, is part of the team working on the land’s restoration. 

"Removing the dams is one thing, restoring the land is quite another," she says. This project involves planting 18 billion seeds across the landscape, including culturally significant species like oak trees and wheatgrass. 

For the Yurok and Karuk people, restoring their land is not just about getting their territory back—it's also about healing. They have seen their river and way of life endangered by dams for years. 

Brook Thompson shares how seeing the river flow freely again is deeply moving. “Anything that can be built can be taken down,” she says, amazed that these once-permanent structures have been removed, showing the tribe's strength.