Rivers Reborn · Episode 11 of 12 · 49 min
The River Answers: Salmon Return in Weeks
Scientists expected salmon to take years to return after the Klamath dams came out; they came back within weeks, spawning above the old dam sites for the first time in over a century. The episode reports the Klamath recovery and the rebuilt Elwha, then turns to the four Lower Snake River dams still standing, the 2023 federal agreement that punted on removal, and the 2025 reversal.
Who's who
- Michael HarrisCDFW Klamath program scientist who described 'salmon everywhere'
- Michael HobleyFisheye Project researcher building an AI sonar fish counter
Where it happens
- Iron Gate Dam site, Klamath River, CaliforniaChinook detected above it within weeks of removal
- Elwha River, Olympic National Park, WashingtonRecolonized by multiple species after dam removal
- Lower Snake River, WashingtonFour federal dams still standing
- Port of Lewiston, Idaho+1 more episodeReached by barge via the Snake dams
Timeline
- 2011-2014Two Elwha dams removed, reopening 70+ miles of habitat.
- 2023-2024Four Klamath dams removed, the largest U.S. removal.
- Early October 2024Fall-run Chinook detected above the former Iron Gate site within weeks.
- October-December 2025More than 10,000 fish counted past the former Iron Gate site.
Still debated
The Klamath result may not transfer to the Snake, whose dams are larger federal projects providing hydropower and barge navigation. How much power and navigation would be lost, and whether it can be replaced, is disputed.