Mission

Showcase the now free-flowing Klamath River watershed with Indigenous students who were the first to kayak the entirety of the river after dam removal.

The Klamath River is flowing free for the first time in over a century. All four dams have been removed, marking the largest river restoration and dam removal project in U.S. history. For over a century, these outdated structures blocked more than 400 miles of salmon spawning habitat, degraded water quality, and contributed to the collapse of native fish populations.

Built without fish passages in the early 1900s, the dams created stagnant, warm reservoirs that fueled toxic algal blooms and spread deadly parasites among coho and Chinook salmon. Spring Chinook populations plummeted by 98%, and Klamath River coho became a federally listed threatened species.

But now, thanks to the relentless efforts of Tribal Nations and countless partner organizations, the river is flowing freely, wetlands and sensitive ecosystems around the Klamath Lake are being revitalized, and salmon are beginning to return! Ecological restoration is underway, breathing new life into a watershed that holds deep cultural, ecological, and spiritual significance.

This is a huge victory for the river and a testament to Tribal leadership, persistence, and the power of collective action.

Photos from the flights.