Swimming past the California-Oregon border, a lost fish — one of thousands — finds its way home after an exile of over 100 years. As swarms of salmon migrate north to Oregon along the Klamath River, youth from across the region’s indigenous tribes kayak south through northern California to the Pacific Ocean — a 300-mile celebratory journey that would not have been possible just a year ago. What’s changed? Beneath the fish and kayaks lie the watery graves of four dams, built in the early 20th century and dismantled over the past two years at a cost of $500 million, the largest and most ambitious dam removal in history. The return of salmon to the upper Klamath River represents a victory for nature, an exhibition of the century-long transition in how Americans view the environment, and a signal achievement of the 1973 Endangered Species Act. 

Other dam removal and anadromous fish restoration news:

• BC Law: Blog: The tribal victory of the century
• Active NorCal: PG&E begins removing Battle Creek Dam to help restore salmon runs​
• NOAA Fisheries: News release: Washington dam removal opens lower Columbia River tributary for salmon and steelhead
• California Trout: News release: Fish are absolutely loving this recent improvement to the Mad River Estuary, according to new Cal Poly-led study