After the dams: What’s next for the Klamath River? | Oregon Field Guide

Video Description

The Klamath River now flows free for hundreds of miles from Southern Oregon to the ocean. But after the largest dam removal project in the U.S., challenges remain. Water shortages in the upper basin fuel toxic bacteria, disease outbreaks and conflicts over endangered fish as salmon swim upstream for the first time in a century. Learn more at https://www.opb.org/article/2025/04/03/salmon-return-to-the-klamaths-oregon-waters-but-the-rivers-headwaters-are-still-blocked/ Listen to more about this story https://www.opb.org/article/2025/04/04/opb-politics-now-pacific-northwest-dam-removal/ and for more stories like this https://www.opb.org/show/oregonfieldguide/ Chapters 0:00 The country's largest dam removal project took four dams off the Klamath River 1:36 Releasing salmon babies into the river before the dam removal 2:55 History of salmon runs being blocked by dams 4:00 J.C. Boyle Dam removal 6:12 Dam removal and their controversies 7:45 How the dams were used to help support agriculture 8:00 Botulism and toxic algae blooms on the Klamath 8:47 Creating a home for salmon with restoration 11:29 The history of Tulelake, Cali. and why the roads and building are sinking 14:38 Before the dam removal farmers used the water from the dams for irrigation but the salmon populations were being threatened 15:12 History of conflicts over water during a record drought 16:55 Organization to remove the dams and un-dam the Klamath 17:28 What's good for the salmon has impacts on the farmers and communities 18:54 Farmers working together to help the salmon survive 21:05 How adding wetlands to farmland to help fish and wildlife 21:57 Karuk tribal member fishes in ceremonial spot 23:22 Record salmon run on the Klamath after dam removal 26:02 Remaining dams preventing salmon passage 27:27 How to help the salmon return For more stories like this visit OPB online at https://opb.org --- Oregon Public Broadcasting aims to elevate and amplify the community, connect Oregon and its neighbors, and illuminate a wider world through stories. OPB Every Day. OPB Everywhere. One way to support OPB and the work of public media is to subscribe to our channel for new OPB videos every month: https://www.youtube.com/opb?sub_confirmation=1 Member support makes all the videos on the OPB YouTube channel possible, and everything else you love. Ensure the next important story is covered and join in as a Sustainer now at https://give.opb.org/opb/?s=OAMEGNS220500000 #oregonfieldguide #klamathfalls #klamath #damremoval #dam #undamming #klamathdam #klamathdamremoval #klamathriver #klamathtribes #endangeredspecies #endangeredwildlife #salmon #salmonpopulation #OPB #Oregon #PacificNorthWest