With the recent completion of dam removal along the California-Oregon border, the public is being invited in to see the results. A string of new recreation sites on the Klamath River began opening Thursday, allowing visitors to view and access the free-flowing waters that Native Americans and environmentalists had long pushed to undam. The five river access sites remain in various stages of development. Three are debuting this week with pit toilets, boat ramps, patches of riverfront and not much else. Improved facilities are expected in coming months, providing sparse but scenic spots for picnicking, wildlife viewing and kayaking. Two of the sites are still under construction and are closed. Managers of the dam-removal project expect all the access areas to be fully open by August. 

Other conservation and restoration news:

• The Mercury News (San Jose, Calif.): Point Buckler Island: Rescuing a keystone of the California Delta
• Westside Connect (Newman, Calif.): Ducks Unlimited expands conservation efforts with new Gustine chapter
• KRNV (Reno, Nev.): Phase three of Upper Bijou Park Creek restoration (on Lake Tahoe) set to begin
• CalTrout: News release: California Department of Fish and Wildlife awards $1.8 million grant to California Trout for Sierra Nevada meadow, forest, and watershed restoration