Crews have successfully redirected the Klamath River to its original path at the JC Boyle Dam site, marking a key milestone in the Klamath River Dam removal project. This achievement represents a critical step in efforts to restore the river's ecosystem and support the recovery of its historically abundant salmon population.
The breakthrough came as workers dismantled the cofferdam at the JC Boyle Dam site, allowing the Klamath River to flow freely through its historic channel for the first time in over 70 years. This milestone is a significant advancement in the dam removal process and signals the restoration of fish passage in this section of the river.
While the return of the river to its original course is a cause for celebration, the work is far from over. Crews will continue to deconstruct the concrete spillway in the coming weeks, followed by efforts to restore the natural slope on the river's left side. These activities are part of the larger Klamath River Dam removal project, which includes the removal of four dams in total.
The restoration of former reservoir lands is already underway and is expected to continue for several years. Dave Coffman, Klamath Restoration Director for Resource Environmental Solutions, said “Watching a river return to its channel, that had been buried for over 70 years, was truly inspiring. It has made me, and all of our folks working on this restoration project that much more excited about revitalizing this landscape.”
As the project progresses, environmental experts and stakeholders remain focused on not only revitalizing the region but also the goals of improving water quality and creating conditions that will support the return of the Fall run of Chinook salmon. Dam removal operations are expected to conclude this autumn.
