Klamath River Dam Removal Project Earns International Award
The Klamath River Renewal Project was recognized for fish passage innovation after reopening more than 400 miles of historic habitat.
Representatives display awards recognizing the Klamath River Renewal Project during the International Fish Passage Conference at UC Davis. The project received the Distinguished Project Award for fish passage innovation and river restoration. Photo courtesy of RES.
KLAMATH RIVER – The Klamath River Renewal Project has received international recognition for its work to restore fish passage and reconnect historic habitat following the removal of four hydroelectric dams.
The project received the Distinguished Project Award from the International Fish Passage Conference during the conference’s 15th annual meeting in May at UC Davis. The award is shared by the Klamath River Renewal Corporation, McMillen and RES.
The Distinguished Project Award recognizes projects that demonstrate innovation and technical excellence in fish passage, river connectivity and habitat improvements for endangered and native species.
Project partners describe the Klamath River Renewal Project as the largest dam removal and river restoration effort in U.S. history. Completed in October 2024, the work removed four hydroelectric dams over a 16-month period and reopened more than 400 miles of historic habitat for salmon, steelhead and lamprey that had been inaccessible for more than a century.
The effort covered roughly 60 kilometers of river and included restoration of 2,200 acres of former reservoir land, along with 22 miles of mainstem and tributary channels. Ecological recovery is now underway through continued restoration and monitoring.
“This project is, at its core, a fish passage barrier removal effort on a massive scale,” said Dan Chase, Director of Fisheries, Aquatics & Design for RES’ Western Region. “The combination of dam removal and large-scale restoration will provide ecological uplift for endangered and native species in a way that hasn’t been done before.”
RES led revegetation work across 2,200 acres using native plant species and restored 3.4 miles of key tributaries to support spawning, rearing and migration.
“Our team collected and propagated more than 20 billion native seeds and grew tens of thousands of trees, shrubs, and plugs to stabilize and restore the landscape,” said Dave Coffman, RES Director for Northern California and Southern Oregon. “At the same time, we developed or supported 18 resource management plans required to keep the project on track. It was an intensive effort delivered on a tight timeline.”
Project partners say the work represents a major milestone for river restoration, fish passage and long-term ecological recovery in the Klamath Basin.
The International Fish Passage Conference was established in 2011 and brings together experts in engineering, biology and resource management to advance fish passage and aquatic connectivity.
Cover image: Wildflowers line the Klamath River following the removal of four hydroelectric dams as part of the Klamath River Renewal Project. The project has received international recognition for fish passage innovation and river restoration. Photo courtesy of RES.
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