California Construction News staff writer
The Klamath River restoration project has reached a significant milestone with the successful completion of dam removals, the largest river restoration effort in U.S. history. Completed ahead of schedule and within budget, work paves the way for ongoing construction to restore 2,200 acres of previously submerged land.
Removing the dams has reopened about 400 miles of critical habitat for salmon and other species, vital to both the river’s ecosystem and the communities that depend on them. Fish can now migrate freely for the first time in more than 100 years.
Tribal leaders have expressed their gratitude for the completion of this project:
“Our áama, ancestral companions, can now return to over 400 miles of unleashed spawning grounds,” said Russell ‘Buster’ Attebery, chairman of the Karuk Tribe. “The river is cleansing itself, and with time, its waters will grow purer. This is a reclamation of our cultural heritage and traditional knowledge. Yôotva!”
Extensive restoration work will continue in the coming years to rehabilitate the affected lands, with the focus will be on monitoring and enhancing the river’s ecosystem to ensure its long-term health and sustainability.