… On Aug. 28, 2024, history was made as crews dismantled the final dam on the Klamath River, restoring over 400 miles of salmon habitat after more than a century of obstruction. Tribes like the Karuk, who led a 20-year fight against the dams, celebrated this milestone. “This day was inevitable because, without this day, there’s no future for our people,” said Karuk Tribe member Leaf Hillman. He and his wife, Lisa, were among the many Indigenous people who spent the last two decades fighting to remove the four dams responsible for harmful algae blooms and fish kills downstream. … Hillman. Behind the dam lies more than 17 million cubic yards of sediment — enough to fill 1,500 Olympic-sized pools. Since demolition began eight months ago, the release of this sediment has severely impacted the Klamath River, reducing oxygen levels, killing aquatic life and disrupting ecosystems along the riverbanks. The sediment’s movement highlights the environmental challenges of removing dams after decades of buildup.