Watchlist: Salmon return to historic habitat after largest dam removal project in the US

By Kamiah Koch

Social media/digital journalist

The largest dam removal project in United States history has allowed Chinook salmon to spawn in the tributaries of the Klamath River for the first time in 60 years.

The Associated Press shared a video on YouTube in November 2024 about the historic return of fall Chinook salmon to the Klamath River.

The video shared footage from the demolition of a dam on the Klamath River in January 2024. An explosion is heard and then water begins to flow through the walls of the dam.

“Fish started showing up in these streams just a week after the final dam was removed,” Yurok Tribal Fisheries Director Barry McCovet Jr. said. “It was a bit surprising to everyone how fast the fish started recolonizing this area.”

McCovet Jr. explained that only nine months ago, these streams were submerged under the dam’s reservoir. Although the streams the fish are returning to now are not perfect spawning ground for them, he has hope that after some restoration work they can restore the habitat to make it better.

“The fish right now that are in the river are helping us understand what’s needed,” McCovet Jr. said. “They are showing us where the good habitat is, they are showing us where (there) is a lack of good habitat.”

McCovet Jr. said they will not only monitor the fish coming into the river to spawn, but also monitor the offspring as they leave the river.

The video shows footage of salmon fins poking out of the shallow tributaries and streams as they wiggle their bodies quickly to lay eggs and fertilize them. 

McCovet Jr. said this milestone gives him hope for the future.

You can watch the entire video on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArMzI8q7uRk or find it linked in our “Watchlist” playlist on the Smoke Signals YouTube channel.