With the completion of the largest dam removal project in the Lower 48, the results are already positive as the first salmon was spotted swimming past a former dam site. In early October, imaging of a Chinook salmon appeared at the former site of the Iron Gate Dam on the Klamath River. The fish, measuring over 2 and a half feet, is believed to be the first fish in the recovery efforts.

From reports:

“It’s been over one hundred years since a wild salmon last swam through this reach of the Klamath River,” said Damon Goodman, a regional director for the nonprofit conservation group California Trout. “I am incredibly humbled to witness this moment and share this news, standing on the shoulders of decades of work by our Tribal partners, as the salmon return home."

To learn more about the unique nature and scope of this project, read any of the links below:.

Klamath River Renewal Corporation: KRRC is part of a cooperative effort to re-establish the natural vitality of the Klamath River so that it can support all communities in the Basin.

Los Angeles Times: Klamath River: Inside the Effort to Restore a River.

California Trout Unlimited: Removal processes have begun, and all four dams are slated to be removed by the end of 2024.

NPR: No turning back: The largest dam removal in U.S. history begins

About onWater's Conservation Efforts

Join a community where fishing is an act of conservation. At onWater, we're dedicated to safeguarding our waters for today, tomorrow, and the countless casts yet to come. Our dedication to one of our most imperiled resources is unwavering, as we join forces with leading conservation organizations. Through collaboration, we aim to conserve this resource by giving it a voice through all outdoor recreation enthusiasts and ensure the future of our water resources.  Our dedication to one of our most imperiled resources is unwavering, as we join forces with leading conservation organizations. Through collaboration, we aim to conserve this resource by giving it a voice through all outdoor recreation enthusiasts and ensure the future of our water resources.