The Klamath River, flowing from the high desert interior of Oregon and through the redwood forests of California, once produced large runs of salmon and trout. However, the construction of hydroelectric dams, beginning in 1918, blocked fish migration, encroached on Indigenous culture, and impacted water quality.

Following more than 20 years of negotiation from tribal and environmental groups, a final approval to remove the four PacifiCorp-owned dams—Copco No. 1, Copco No. 2, J.C. Boyle, and Iron Gate—was given in November 2022. This Landsat 8 image from August 2023 reveals the four dams before their removal.

In October 2023, Copco No. 2, the smallest of the dams, was fully removed, marking the beginning of a new era for the Klamath River. Deconstruction of the remaining three dams was started during the spring of 2024. In the following August, crews carved away the last remnants of the dams, allowing the Klamath River to flow freely for the first time in more than a century.

The Landsat Program will continue to document the dam removal project as it restores the health of the Klamath river, reconnecting 400 miles of critical salmon habitat and revitalizing traditional cultural practices.