Breaking Barriers: An Analysis of Dam Removal and Chinook Salmon Recovery on the Klamath River

Abstract

In 2024, four hydroelectric dams were removed from the Klamath River in Southern Oregon and Northern California. Their removal will allow Chinook Salmon access to historic migratory routes that have been blocked by these dams for over a century. This paper aims to synthesize the history and events that led to this dam project, as well as the current and future implications of dam removal, focusing on identifying Indigenous and Western perspectives surrounding these issues. The fight for water rights and challenges with federal and state governments led to decades of activism from Indigenous communities to restore the depleted salmon populations. With this removal, tribal nations in the Klamath River Basin will regain access to a significant traditional food source, while also preserving cultural heritage and spiritual connections to a sacred species. Chinook Salmon and other salmonids are critical for these Indigenous communities' mental, physical, and spiritual health. Environmentally, dam removal will increase water quality, lower water temperatures, and reduce sediment load, which are all crucial factors in increasing Chinook salmon population sizes, as well as increasing juvenile and smolt survival. Restoration efforts for the surrounding habitat include improving river flow and restoring riverbank vegetation. Future management will require continued collaboration between tribal and governmental agencies, and the continued success of Chinook Salmon recovery is dependent on ongoing monitoring and conservation efforts.