Indigenous Advocate Amy Bowers Cordalis Discusses Klamath River Dam Removal and Restoration Efforts
Indigenous advocate and attorney Amy Bowers Cordalis, a member of the Yurok tribe, highlighted the successful removal of four dams on the Klamath River, marking the largest dam removal in American history and the world's largest salmon restoration project. The Yurok tribe, whose ancestral home is along the Klamath River in Northern California, witnessed a severe decline in salmon runs and increased pollution due to a century of extraction and dam construction. Cordalis recounted the tribe's long fight, which involved forming coalitions with indigenous nations, commercial fishermen, NGOs, states, and farmers, as well as extensive litigation. This collective effort led to a $500 million settlement agreement for dam removal, which equally valued the rights of nature, business, and indigenous peoples. The removal of the dams in 2023 and 2024 has resulted in a remarkably rapid recovery of the river, with salmon returning to historical spawning grounds not accessed for a century. The project has also created liv...
