#United States #Ecological Restoration #Davis #Klamath River #fish passage

Klamath River Renewal Project: A Landmark Achievement in Ecological Restoration

The Klamath River Renewal Project has recently been honored with the Distinguished Project Award from the International Fish Passage Conference. This prestigious accolade was bestowed during the 15th annual conference, which took place at UC Davis in May 2026. The award recognizes projects that employ innovative techniques and demonstrate technical superiority in achieving ecological benefits, particularly in relation to fish passage, river connectivity, and the enhancement of habitats for both endangered and native species.

As Mark Bransom, CEO of the Klamath River Renewal Corporation (KRRC), expressed, "We are honored and grateful for this recognition. While this is a story of an engineering and restoration feat on an epic scale, it is also a story of righting historic wrongs and allowing several tribes to reclaim a river they have relied on since time immemorial. I am certain this project would not have happened without the ongoing advocacy of tribal nations."

The Klamath River Renewal Project has become historic in its scale and ambition. It stands as the largest dam removal and river restoration initiative in the United States, and it represents a paramount effort in salmon restoration efforts. Official completion of the dam removal activities was achieved in October 2024, following an intensive 16-month period during which four hydroelectric dams were dismantled. This monumental task reopened over 400 miles of habitat previously blocked for more than a century, providing critical access for salmon, steelhead, and lamprey.

Over a span of 60 kilometers, the project resurfaced 2,200 acres of habitat and 22 miles of channels. The process of ecological recovery is actively underway as restoration and monitoring initiatives continue. Dan Chase, Director of Fisheries at Resource Environmental Solutions (RES), noted, "This project is, at its core, a fish passage barrier removal project on a massive scale. Historically, the Klamath River was the third-largest salmon-producing river on the U.S. West Coast, but its salmon populations have plummeted to less than 5% of their historical abundance. The combination of dam removal and an extensive restoration endeavor will facilitate unprecedented levels of fish passage and ecological uplift for endangered and native species."

The International Fish Passage Conference, founded in 2011, serves as a platform uniting engineers, biologists, and stakeholders passionate about river restoration, especially concerning ecological connectivity and fish passage issues. The event aims to foster advancements in the science and practice of fish passage by creating an opportunity for researchers, managers, and policymakers to exchange knowledge and experiences.

The dam removals had to follow an extremely tight schedule, dictated by ecological considerations. Mort McMillen, Program Manager for McMillen Jacobs, emphasized, "The dam removal had to be conducted during the biologically dormant season after the fall Chinook and coho spawning runs, yet before the next cycle started in early October. This required a robust construction schedule across the three major dams, ensuring that channels at former dam sites were reconstructed to allow voluntary fish passage by the first week of October. Factors such as real-time water quality, including dissolved oxygen levels, influenced the deconstruction timeline. Our team faced an intricate challenge to minimize water quality issues while maintaining the efficiency of the dam removal process."

A key aspect of the project, managed by RES, was the revegetation of 2,200 acres of land that had formerly been submerged by the reservoirs. They deployed nearly 20 billion native seeds from 100 plant species, laying the groundwork to restore healthy spawning, rearing, and migratory habitats for salmon over 3.4 miles of tributaries.

Dave Coffman, Director for Northern California and Southern Oregon at RES, outlined the extensive efforts undertaken: "We were charged with the collection and propagation of over 20 billion native seeds, along with cultivating tens of thousands of trees, shrubs, and other plants to reestablish vegetation as the reservoirs drained. We developed numerous resource management plans for federal and state permits, facilitating the initiative to stay on schedule. It was an extraordinary volume of work within a tight timeframe, but we were faster than the fish coming back!"

The Klamath River Renewal Project not only marks a historical moment in environmental restoration but also signals a profound shift in the management of natural resources, giving a voice back to the tribes and fostering a sustainable future for the ecosystems of the Klamath River. As this project continues to evolve, it sets an inspiring example of what is possible when engineering, ecology, and community advocacy work harmoniously together.