The removal of the four Klamath River dams – the largest dam decommissioning in the world – opened up more than 400 miles of habitat, giving salmon and steelhead a chance to thrive once again, (“Opinion: A surge of salmon – and hope – after Klamath dams’ removal,” May 7).
Already, at least 6,000 salmon have swum upstream past the demolished dam sites. It’s an inspiring reclamation of our natural heritage, critical not only for fish but also for the communities and businesses that depend on them.
It is imperative that the federal government keep its commitment to local communities to fund projects needed to compete this remarkable effort. In 2024, Congress allocated funds to support several stakeholder-driven projects, promising to help farmers and ranchers become more resilient, strengthen rural economies and revitalize fish habitat. Businesses, tribes, commercial fishers and conservation groups worked hard to reach this point. To pull funding now, as the Trump administration is beginning to do, seems designed to undermine a historical restoration project and a model of collaborative partnerships.
This success in the Klamath Basin also is an illustration of the potential of the Snake River Basin after the four lower Snake River dams are removed.
Irene Vlach, Portland
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