After Dam Removal: What's next for the Klamath?

There was a great celebration recently at the mouth of our Klamath River. The focus was on a Klamath River recently freed of its most significant dams and the first descent of the newly freed river by a group of young native knackers. The young people were from all tribes of the Klamath River Basin. They are participants in the Rios to Ridges and the Ridges to Riffles Programs.

The young kayakers journey actually began at the source of the Wood River above Upper Klamath Lake, where the full river emerges as if miraculously from a lava flow. The Klamath River proper begins at the outlet of Upper Klamath Lake. Below is a map of the Upper Klamath River Basin, including the Wood River.

Virtually all those who have been deeply involved in native fish restoration within the Klamath River Basin understand and acknowledge that dam removal is not enough, that more needs to be done if we are going to restore Koptu (Lost River Sucker), C'waam (Shortnose Sucker) and Ama (Klamath Salmon) to abundance. However, there is currently no process whereby those who want aquatic ecosystems and the fisheries they support restored can come together to figure out what next step priorities will be. If that does not change, tribal and other government officials will decide what next steps to take without any process that consults their own citizens and others who actually live and work in this river basin.

Water Quality Problems remain after dam removal:

Toxic algae mats in the Klamath River near Seiad Valley

This is a challenge and a call. I call on the tribal governments of the Klamath River Basin to conduct a series of consultation meetings in communities throughout the Basin. Let's hear everyone's ideas on next step priorities. Then we can define together, as a river basin community of interest and place, what's next in the long struggle to fully restore our River to health and abundance.

Here a link to one activists idea about next step priorities. Please share your own ideas on next steps in the comments section below.

Who will stand up and support this call for a Basin-wide consultation process on next steps toward restoring our River's health and abundance?