How Native American Tribes Led the Klamath River Restoration
The Klamath River has long been a lifeline for Indigenous peoples in the region, such as the Karuk, Yurok, and Hoopa Tribes. It was once a thriving ecosystem where salmon flourished, providing sustenance and cultural significance to these Tribes for centuries. However, the construction of a series of hydroelectric dams along the California-Oregon border, beginning in the early 20th century, significantly altered the river's natural flow and caused severe disruptions to its ecology.
The dams blocked salmon migration routes, disrupted water quality, and led to devastating consequences for both the environment and the Indigenous communities that depended on the river. The Klamath River Basin's diverse ecosystems suffered as wetlands disappeared, and harmful algal blooms became a regular occurrence.
The Link River Dam at the head of the Klamath River, Oregon. Image by the Bureau of Reclamation.
In 2002, natives living on the Yurok reservation woke up to a devastating sight and stench of death—tens of thousands of dead salmon floating downstream the Klamath River. Annelia Hillman, a traditional food coordinator for the Yurok Tribe, remembers this experience clearly, and recalls it akin to witnessing a massacre of her family. The mass mortality of salmon, estimated at up to 70,000, signaled a grave crisis in the river ecosystem, prompting a generation of young Native activists to demand change.
A Decades-Long Struggle for Dam Removal
Over the years, Tribal nations in the Klamath River Basin, joined by their allies, confronted powerful interests that had harnessed the river for hydroelectric energy. One of the key players in this historic restoration effort was the Karuk Tribe, known for their resilience and dedication to protecting their ancestral lands and waters. The Tribes, bolstered by passionate advocates (including research biologists), embarked on an unyielding campaign to hold those responsible accountable. They shifted the focus away from governmental processes and instead targeted the corporations profiting from the dams.
The fight took them from boardrooms in Scotland, where they confronted the Scottish Power company, to shareholder meetings in Omaha, Nebraska, to face Warren Buffet's Berkshire Hathaway. After years of confrontational activism, grassroots organizing, and legal battles, the Tribes, environmental groups, and their allies managed to secure a victory.
Members of the Yurok Tribe at a 2005 rally to “Bring the Salmon Home” to the Klamath River. Image by International Rivers.
In 2022, the US government agreed to the removal of the dams, marking a watershed moment for the Klamath River and its surrounding communities. The removal project commenced in June, with the smallest dam, Copco No. 2, already torn down, and the three remaining dams scheduled for removal next year, including the drawdown of reservoirs in January.
The $450-million project is funded primarily by PacifiCorp ratepayers, with about $200 million contributed. PacifiCorp, a subsidiary of Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway, opted for dam removal, as maintaining the aging dams to current environmental standards would have been more costly. It's essential to note that these dams were solely used for power generation, not water storage for cities or farms.
Restoring Nature and Tradition
The dam removal project is an enormous undertaking, considered the largest of its kind in the United States and perhaps the world. It involves removing thousands of tons of concrete and steel, with an estimated 400 to 500 workers at the peak of the operation. It won't involve explosive demolitions but will require blasting open some dam tunnels to clear accumulated sediment.
Simultaneously, the restoration project encompasses the revival of approximately 2,200 acres of reservoir bottom to a natural state. In recent years, nearly 1 billion seeds from native plants along the Klamath have been collected, producing an impressive 13 billion seeds for replanting after the reservoirs are drained. This endeavor aims to allow native vegetation to flourish and enable fish to access over 400 miles of spawning habitat in the river and its tributaries.
Juvenile Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) monitoring in the Klamath River. Image by the US Fish and Wildlife Service Pacific Southwest Region.
For the Yurok Tribe and others deeply involved in this endeavor, the dam removal signifies an opportunity to heal the ecosystem, enable fish populations to recover, and strengthen their ancestral connection to the river while preserving fishing traditions.
Hope for the Future
This initiative is not just about salmon. It's about restoring balance, preserving traditions, and demonstrating that it is possible to undo the damage inflicted upon nature. The removal of the Klamath River dams offers hope, not just for this region, but for similar battles across the country. The Klamath River restoration project underscores the significance of Indigenous leadership and the resilience of communities that have borne the brunt of environmental injustices.
Upper Klamath River, Oregon. Image by the Bureau of Land Management, Oregon and Washington.
As the bulldozers roll in, the largest river restoration project in US history serves as an emblem of the power of determination, the importance of ecological integrity, and the need to reevaluate our priorities in the face of pressing environmental challenges.