Removing Dams on the Klamath River – Why and How

Four dams were removed from the Klamath River in 2023-24 to bring it back to its natural, wild state. These dams provided water and power to the region but blocked spawning salmon, and they were declared economically inefficient by their owner. This was the largest dam removal effort in U.S., leading to the restoration of the river, its environment, and services to Native American communities.

To explain the motivations, methods, and outcomes of this project, we talk with Brian Graber, Senior Director of Dam Removal Strategies for American Rivers, a 50-year-old not-for-profit organization which advocates for the health and restoration of U.S. rivers. Brian earned a B.A. in geography from Dartmouth College, and M.S. degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in civil and environmental engineering and in geography.