In a historic milestone for environmental justice and tribal sovereignty, the largest dam removal project in US history was completed Wednesday, marking the end of decades-long efforts by local tribes to restore the Klamath River to its natural state, The Associated Press reports.
The removal of four towering hydroelectric dams along the California-Oregon border has freed hundreds of miles of the Klamath River, a vital habitat for salmon that are culturally and spiritually significant to local tribes.
For years, the dams impeded the natural flow of the river, disrupting the salmon lifecycle and leading to their decline due to poor water quality. The dams, built by power company PacifiCorp between 1918 and 1962, only produced a small amount of energy, enough to power about 70,000 homes. They also did not provide irrigation, drinking water, or flood control, according to the Klamath River Renewal Corporation, the nonprofit entity overseeing the project.
Through tireless advocacy, including protests, testimony, and lawsuits, local tribes exposed the environmental devastation caused by the dams, showcasing the damage to the river’s ecosystem and the cultural fabric of their communities.
“Without the tribes’ work to point out the damage that these dams were doing, not only to the environment, but to the social and cultural fabric of these tribal nations, there would be no dam removal,” said Mark Bransom, chief executive of the Klamath River Renewal Corporation.
Since the dams began to be breached, salmon have regained access to their historic spawning grounds, water temperatures have decreased, and water quality has improved, said Michael Belchik, senior water policy analyst for the Yurok Tribe.
