A century ago, the Klamath River was the third largest producer of salmon and steelhead on the West Coast. But this salmon nursery has become a grave.
Today Klamath River salmon are on the brink of extinction. Agribusiness development diverts an enormous amount of water from the river each year, and a series of aging dams cuts the Klamath in half, blocking salmon from over 300 miles of historic habitat.
The license to operate these dams, owned by PacifiCorp, a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway’s Mid-American Energy Holdings, expired in 2006. The corporation is now in the process of seeking a new license for these dams. Oregon Wild, like many scientists, commercial fishermen, Native American Tribes, and other conservation groups, seeks the removal of the lower four dams from the Klamath River. Removing these dams as part of a holistic plan to restore the Klamath Basin is the cheapest, safest, and most effective option for recovering Klamath River salmon and protecting the communities that depend on them.
