After more than a century of waiting, salmon are finally swimming freely through the Klamath River once again. Following the largest dam removal project in U.S. history, Chinook salmon have begun migrating into habitat they haven't seen in over 100 years—a victory decades in the making for the tribes and conservationists who never stopped fighting for their return. Four massive hydroelectric dams that once blocked hundreds of miles of the Klamath River near the California-Oregon border have been demolished. The river, once the third-largest salmon producer on the West Coast, is healing. Within days of the project's completion, researchers spotted salmon exploring waters their ancestors knew generations ago. This isn't just about fish—it's about restoration, resilience, and the power of never giving up. The tribes who protested, testified, and showcased the environmental devastation are witnessing the river come back to life. While recovery will take time, the sight of wild salmon swimming home after a hundred-year absence is proof that nature, when given the chance, knows exactly how to heal.
Salmon Return Home: Historic Dam Removal Reopens 100 Years of River
