After more than a century of being dammed and decades of direct action by the Karuk, Yurok, Hupa, and Klamath tribes of Oregon and California, the Klamath River that once spawned millions of Salmon and Steelhead will flow free once again. Since the beginning of the dams operation in 1918, and subsequent expansion along the Klamath River, the operation would eventually mark the near total extinction of salmon by the 1930’s. For Northern California and Southern Oregon tribes already experiencing settler violence and displacement since the California Gold Rush of 1848, the dams have been another avenue for the continued genocide, loss of lands, resources, and cultural livelihoods tribes have enjoyed for thousands of years. On Thursday, November 17th, 2022 however, the tribes and our allies celebrate as the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) unanimously approved the dam removal project that could restore hundreds of miles of habitat for the fish and ecosystems that have flourished within it. Once complete, it will be the largest dam removal and river restoration project in United States history.

In a statement by Karuk Chairman, Russell ‘Buster’ Attebery, he says ““Today’s victory was well earned by the thousands of people who fought for clean water, healthy fisheries, and environmental justice for Klamath River communities. I am grateful to everyone, from the youth to the elders, Governors Newsom and Brown, and the team from PacifiCorp who made this victory possible,” and his sentiments are felt across generations. Since the beginning of the dams operation over a century ago, tribes and ecosystems that exist within it have looked on as their beautiful and pristine homelands became little more than wastelands. As a result of decades of federal mismanagement and abuse, the Upper Klamath Lake, the dams and their reservoirs have become a breeding ground for cyanobacteria and other algae that is toxic to aquatic life, to humans, to livestock, and to pets. The Karuk tribe measured Klamath River toxicity content that exceeded World Health Organization guidelines by almost 4,000 times, and as a result, 90% of the small number of salmon that do return to the river become seriously ill.

The November 17th action by FERC is the last step in a six-year regulatory oversight process that ensures dam removal is the most beneficial course of action to restore the Klamath River’s fledgling salmon runs and improve poor water quality. With dam removal activities expected to begin in early 2023, and completion by the end of 2024, this historic achievement is just one example of thousands where Indigenous lives, lands, and resources that were stolen for the benefit of the few resulted in catastrophe for the many. We know that moving forward under the same tired and irresponsible U.S. tradition of extraction doesn’t just lead to a lower quality life for us, the Indigenous, but for the entire human race and the gig is up. We’re coming to take it all back… #LandBack

Indigenous Peoples Power Project