Un-Dam the Klamath (#UnDamtheKlamath) is a social movement in the United States to remove the dams on the Klamath River primarily because they obstruct salmon, steelhead, and other species of fish from accessing the upper basin which provides hundreds of miles of spawning habitat. The dams have also significantly harmed Native American communities such as the Hupa, Karuk, Klamath, and Yurok. Four hydroelectric dams on the Klamath River in California and Oregon (Copco #1, Copco #2, Iron Gate and J.C. Boyle) are being advocated for removal.[1][2]
The movement to remove the dams has been ongoing for at least 20 years and gained national attention following the 2002 Klamath River fish kill, when at least 33,000 salmon and steelhead died along the banks of the Klamath upon returning to the river and failing to reach their spawning grounds in the upper basin.[3] The movement argues that the dams should be removed because they create toxic algal blooms, dwindle salmon numbers and create illness in the fish, threaten tribal subsistence and increase health risks for tribal members, and harm the West Coast fishing industry. Seven species of fish are threatened by the dams.[4][5] The dam removal has also been cited as economically beneficial.[6]
Opposition groups have included local landowners around the reservoirs created by the dams and companies like PacifiCorp.[5] PacifiCorp initially agreed to dam removal in 2009, yet after a decade of negotiations pulled out of the agreement when the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) stated that they should take responsibility and pay for the removal, rather than simply walk away, as had been agreed upon by all parties.[2] Support groups claim environmental racism and classism as a reason as to why the dams have yet to be removed.[7] Removal of the dams would be the largest dam removal project in the world and would restore access for fish to their historical cold-water habitat.[1][4]
An agreement to remove the dams was reached in 2009, and the final dam was removed in August, 2024.
- ^ a b "UnDam the Klamath – TAKE ACTION". California Trout. October 23, 2020.
- ^ a b Dams Are Threatening California Salmon and a Native Tribe's Culture. VICE News. October 22, 2020 – via YouTube.
- ^ Arthur, Damon (October 5, 2018). "Controversy over Klamath River dam removal persists as approval nears". Record Searchlight.
- ^ a b "Top 5 California Dams Out" (PDF). California Trout: The 2019 Report. 2019.
- ^ a b Hartel, Diana (May 25, 2011). "Doctor's Orders: Undam the Klamath". High Country News.
- ^ Honea, Jon (May 31, 2020). "When Does it Make Sense to Undam a River?". The Maritime Executive.
- ^ "California Water Justice and Tribal Advocates announce week of action". The Willits News. September 3, 2020.