Nealon, Sean. “Dam Removals, Restoration Project on Klamath River Expected to Help Salmon, Researchers Conclude.” Life at OSU, 1 Nov. 2023, https://today.oregonstate.edu/news/dam-removals-restoration-project-klamath-river-expected-help-salmon-researchers-conclude

The Klamath River is the site of the largest dam removal project in the world. One dam along the river was already destroyed, and 3 more are slated to be destroyed in early 2024. This project will aid the salmon population by restoring their traditional migratory patterns and gaining projection against parasites and diseases in the region, which have been chipping away at their population for years. Recently, the Yurok, Hoopa, Klamath, and Karuk Tribes and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife among other environmental organizations published a paper detailing the benefits of removing the dams, which inspired the project to begin with. The project received $4.5 million in funding from Oregon State and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.

This project represents an interesting dilemma. Some of the dams being taken down are hydroelectric and have previously generated a lot of clean energy. While taking them down would restore salmon habitat, it may also give non-renewable sources of energy a greater share of the market. This project poses some very interesting questions when it comes to our climate priorities. Regardless, it is definitely a positive that salmon populations will be repaired- especially considering the Klamath River was once the third largest salmon-producing river on the West Coast. I wonder how quickly the river will take to repair, and what measures lawmakers will take to protect the river for years to come. This article is related to environmental science because it discusses the Klamath River’s ecosystem and the science behind removing the dams in the area.