Summary

The removal of four hydroelectric dams on the Klamath River, completed in October 2023, is the largest dam removal project in U.S. history. The dams had blocked salmon migration, disrupted ecosystems, and worsened toxic algal blooms for over a century.

Decades of advocacy by tribal groups, environmentalists, and locals led to their removal, marking a significant environmental milestone. Early recovery signs include salmon returning to the upper basin for the first time in 60+ years.

The project also restored sacred lands to the Shasta Indian Nation and opened 400 miles of habitat for native species.

Challenges like sediment-clearing and climate impacts persist, but stakeholders celebrate it as a model for ecological renewal.