Golden State Today

Fish are now swimming freely in the Klamath River for the first time in more than 100 years, thanks to collaboration between state, federal, and tribal partners.

The Klamath River restoration project, the largest such effort in American history, aims to remove four obsolete hydroelectric dams in California and Oregon. These dams had degraded water quality over decades, harming salmon populations and the communities that depend on them.

The breaching of two cofferdams at Iron Gate and Copco No. 1 today has returned the Klamath River to a free-flowing state in California for the first time in a century. This development allows native fish species such as steelhead, coho, and Chinook salmon access to over 400 miles of newly opened spawning and rearing habitat. This habitat includes not only the main stem of the Klamath River but also several important tributaries that historically supported salmon and steelhead populations. These areas will provide consistent sources of cool water during warm months and amid a warming climate.

The dam removal effort is expected to help revitalize the culture and economy for several tribes residing in the Klamath Basin.

"This moment is decades in the making — and reflects California’s commitment to righting the wrongs of the past. Today, fish are swimming freely in the Klamath for the first time in more than a century, thanks to the incredible work of our tribal, local and federal partners," said Governor Gavin Newsom.

In June, Governor Newsom visited the Klamath River to observe progress on the dam removal work. Last September saw the dismantling of one of four dams, with ongoing efforts this year resulting from collaboration between California and Oregon, the Yurok and Karuk Tribes, PacifiCorp, and fishing and environmental groups.

The Klamath was once the third-largest salmon-producing river on the West Coast before concrete dams constructed starting in 1918 blocked migratory salmon and steelhead from accessing nearly 400 miles of critical river habitat.

In December 2022, Governor Newsom joined U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, leaders of the Yurok and Karuk Tribes, and Oregon Governor Kate Brown to celebrate Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s final approval of this project.

Earlier this year, Governor Newsom released California’s first strategy to restore salmon populations amid hotter and drier weather exacerbated by climate change. The Administration and Legislature have invested over $800 million in protecting iconic fish species over three years. Additionally, a Federal Fishery Disaster Declaration has been requested to support impacted communities due to a full closure of ocean salmon season for two consecutive years.