Klamath River Celebrates New Life as Youth Paddlers Reach the Pacific
KLAMATH, Calif. — Under a veil of morning fog, vibrant kayaks glide through the water. As they approach the shore, cheers erupt from a gathering of supporters on the beach. Native American youths from various tribes leap from their kayaks, some racing eagerly toward the ocean’s edge, a body of water that has witnessed a decline in salmon populations over the past century due to the construction of hydropower dams.
Fifteen-year-old Tasia Linwood from the Karuk Tribe expressed pride in her heritage, stating, “I think our ancestors would be proud because this is what they’ve been fighting for.” This sentiment reflects the long struggle to restore the river and its critical salmon passages.
The Klamath River has recently been made navigable again after a historic campaign to dismantle four hydropower dams. These dams obstructed salmon migration, impacting the tribes that have relied on these fish for sustenance and cultural practices for generations. The youth, primarily from the Yurok, Klamath, Hoopa Valley, Karuk, Quartz Valley, and Warm Springs tribes, paddled 310 miles over a month, starting from the Wood River’s sacred headwaters down to the Pacific Ocean.
Through the Paddle Tribal Waters program, local Native youths learned to navigate the waters in preparation for this journey. During the last leg, the group’s numbers swelled to over a hundred as family members and Indigenous allies from Bolivia, Chile, and New Zealand joined in their shared experience.
The Impact of Dams
The dams, constructed by PacifiCorp since the early 1900s, were initially built to generate electricity. However, they caused irreparable harm to the river’s ecosystem, blocking salmon from accessing crucial spawning grounds. The loss of the salmon population led to a deteriorating food source and overall water quality in the area.
The 2002 outbreak of bacteria, which killed thousands of fish, was a wake-up call that galvanized advocacy efforts. In 2022, federal regulators approved the removal of the dams, marking a significant victory for the tribes and environmental groups.
Although the dismantling of the dams resulted in a loss of renewable energy that once powered about 70,000 homes, PacifiCorp has since invested in wind and solar energy alternatives.
A Journey of Healing and Heritage
The youth’s journey began on June 12 with traditional blessings at the springs near the Wood River. Along the way, they camped, shared laughter, and reminisced about personal connections to the river and the communities that once thrived near its banks.
With over 2,200 dams removed across the U.S. since 1912, there has been a renewed focus on restoring the natural flow of rivers and the wildlife dependent on them. This movement resonates deeply with the tribes, as their treaty rights and cultural practices are tied to the river’s health.
John Acuna from the Hoopa Valley Tribe noted the symbolic importance of this journey, linking it to a broader struggle against a history of oppression and cultural erasure.
As the teens celebrated their arrival at the ocean, they felt both triumph and a heavy awareness of the past. Tasia Linwood articulated this complexity, reflecting on the burdens of history while celebrating the unity and joy of their journey.
By reconnecting with their ancestral waters, these young paddlers not only navigate the river but also pave the way for a renewed relationship with their heritage and hope for future generations.
