For the first time in more than a century, salmon have reached the headwaters of the Klamath River Basin, a milestone made possible by the removal of four major dams along the California–Oregon border. The event marks a defining moment for both environmental restoration and the communities of southern Oregon that depend on the river’s health for ecological and cultural vitality.
Over the past two years, the largest dam removal project in U.S. history unfolded along the Klamath River. The dismantling of the Iron Gate, Copco No. 1, Copco No. 2, and J.C. Boyle dams opened more than 400 miles of upstream habitat that had been inaccessible to salmon since the early 1900s. For decades, these barriers prevented migratory fish from reaching their historical spawning grounds, severely reducing salmon runs and disrupting the natural ecosystem of the Klamath Basin.
This fall, biologists confirmed that adult Chinook salmon successfully migrated past the former dam sites and into tributaries of Upper Klamath Lake, including the Williamson and Sprague rivers. Tag detections and visual observations showed fish returning to their ancestral waters in southern Oregon—waters last reached by salmon generations ago. These findings mark a critical step in restoring the natural life cycle of the species and reestablishing the biological connections between the Pacific Ocean and Oregon’s inland waterways.
The Klamath River project represents decades of collaboration among tribal nations, environmental groups, local landowners, and state and federal agencies. The Yurok, Karuk, and Klamath Tribes were instrumental in pushing for the dams’ removal, emphasizing the cultural and subsistence importance of salmon to their people. Their advocacy, coupled with extensive environmental studies and public funding, led to the unprecedented restoration effort now unfolding along the river.
For southern Oregon residents, the ecological and economic impacts of this recovery are far-reaching. Healthy salmon runs contribute not only to biodiversity but also to local tourism, recreational fishing, and the cultural heritage of the region. As the salmon reestablish themselves in upstream habitats, the nutrients they carry from the ocean will once again enrich riparian ecosystems, benefiting countless other species.
However, the success of this recovery will depend on continued monitoring and habitat restoration. Scientists caution that salmon populations face ongoing challenges, including water quality concerns, changing climate conditions, and fluctuating river temperatures. Restoration efforts are currently underway to stabilize soils, replant native vegetation, and restore natural stream channels along former reservoir beds. These steps aim to create the conditions necessary for sustained salmon populations in the years to come.
The return of salmon to the Klamath River’s headwaters stands as a symbol of resilience and renewal. While the journey toward full ecological balance is far from complete, this achievement represents a turning point for the Klamath Basin and for southern Oregon’s long relationship with the river. After more than a century of silence in these upper waters, the salmon’s return signals that nature, given time and opportunity, can find its way home.