Klamath River shows signs of recovery one year after dam removal

According to Underscore Native News, scientists monitoring the Klamath River say the ecosystem is rebounding a year after the final dams were removed. Chinook salmon have returned to spawning grounds, and wildlife such as eagles, bears and otters are appearing more frequently, said Damon Goodman, Mount Shasta-Klamath regional director for California Trout.

Goodman was quoted as saying that the river “came alive almost instantly after dam removal,” with more than 7,700 fish recorded passing the former Iron Gate Dam site between October and December 2024. Toz Soto, fisheries program manager for the Karuk Tribe, said water quality has improved as temperatures cool and harmful algae blooms disappear. However, Goodman said federal funding cuts, including the Department of the Interior’s termination of California Trout’s funding, pose challenges for continued monitoring of the river’s recovery.