{"id":313039,"date":"2024-03-26T07:49:41","date_gmt":"2024-03-26T06:49:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=313039"},"modified":"2024-03-26T07:49:44","modified_gmt":"2024-03-26T06:49:44","slug":"the-river-is-essentially-dead-how-enviros-push-to-save-salmon-ended-up-killing-hundreds-of-thousands-of-them","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=313039","title":{"rendered":"\u2018The River Is Essentially Dead\u2019: How Enviros\u2019 Push To Save Salmon Ended Up Killing \u2018Hundreds Of Thousands\u2019 Of Them"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From The Daily Caller<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

NICK POPE<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

CONTRIBUTOR<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A well-funded environmentalist group played a key role in the push to remove dams in the Pacific Northwest\u2019s Klamath River ahead of premature deaths of thousands of salmon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

American Rivers \u2014 an organization that has received millions of dollars from left-of-center environmentalist grantmaking organizations in recent years \u2014 was \u201cthe orchestrator of the Klamath dams removal project,\u201d\u00a0according<\/a>\u00a0to Siskiyou News, a local outlet in Northern California. The drawdowns of several reservoirs pursuant to the scheduled removal of four dams in the river preceded\u00a0the\u00a0deaths<\/a>\u00a0of \u201chundreds of thousands\u201d of young salmon in the waterway,\u00a0according<\/a>\u00a0to Oregon Public Broadcasting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The push to remove the dams is often marketed<\/a> as beneficial for salmon, as proponents of the plan \u2014 including American Rivers<\/a> \u2014 have<\/a> argued<\/a> that the dams obstruct the natural movements of salmon as well as their access to habitat. However, weeks after beginning the process to remove one of the systems scheduled for deconstruction on the river, a large number of the 830,000 young salmon released into the river on Feb. 26 had died as of March 2, according<\/a> to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). (RELATED: White House Won\u2019t Confirm If Biden Will Visit East Palestine, Says He\u2019s \u2018Taking It Very Seriously\u2019)<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

CDFW officials attributed the mass-death to gas bubble disease<\/a>, which is caused by changes in water pressure, and stated that the changes in pressure driving the deaths was attributable to old dam infrastructure that is slated for removal. The agency further stated that water turbidity and dissolved oxygen levels do not appear to have contributed to the mass-death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The young salmon that died travelled through a tunnel involved in the dam infrastructure that had previously not been accessible to the fish before officials altered the flow of water through the system as part of the removal process, Peter Tira, an information officer for the CDFW, explained to the Daily Caller News Foundation. The deaths were primarily a function of where the fish were released\u00a0into the water, and the outcome, though unfortunate, is a learning opportunity for stakeholders who remain committed to making the Klamath River a free-flowing cold water river system again in the long-term, Tira told the DCNF.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Water from the Klamath River mixes with water from a different body in northern California. (Photo via the office of Republican California Rep. Doug LaMalfa)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n
\n
\"\"
Dead fish are pictured along the Klamath River system. (Photo via the office of Republican California Rep. Doug LaMalfa)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

American Rivers is also closely involved with the Klamath River Renewal Corporation<\/a> (KRRC), a nonprofit coalition that is playing a key role in the removals in accordance with its stated mission to \u201cremove the Klamath hydroelectric dams and restore a free-flowing river.\u201d Along with other organizations involved with the KRRC, American Rivers has appointed several officials to the group\u2019s board of directors<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, some officials and environmental policy experts are not buying the government\u2019s explanation for the mass-death of salmon, asserting instead that it is clear that the removal of the dams set conditions for the mass-death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe risk of gas bubbles is well known, so the fact that one million salmon were killed is a failure of government staff to prevent their death. Rather than act as this is the fault of the dam, government staff should acknowledge their mistake and learn from it,\u201d Todd Myers, the director of the Washington Policy Center\u2019s Center for the Environment, told the DCNF. \u201cIt is unfortunately typical that when government actions harm the environment, agencies spend more time deflecting blame than addressing the problem or being held accountable.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Regardless of whether or not dam removal is the right decision, poor planning or execution of the removals should not be excused, Myers emphasized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Republican California Rep. Doug LaMalfa, whose district includes the river and a is a longtime opponent of removing the dams, agreed with Myers\u2019 assessment of the causes for the deaths.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

LaMalfa has been warning removal proponents \u201cfrom day one\u201d that moving to hastily remove the dams without a comprehensive plan to handle second-order effects could be catastrophic, he told the DCNF. He\u00a0believes many proponents of removing dams are mostly interested in adding metaphorical \u201ctrophies\u201d to their shelves rather than devising and implementing effective plans to remove the dams responsibly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is about political scores. People like me and others have been warning them for two decades that when you do this and you have no plan for the silt \u2014 and they don\u2019t have one \u2014 they have been exposed that they have no plan. They\u2019re just doing it, doing it on the fly,\u201d LaMalfa told the DCNF. \u201cWe see the destruction with the flume that has gone down the whole river and out in the ocean. I understand it\u2019s even moved all the way up towards Crescent City, which is many miles up the coast.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

American Rivers, meanwhile, does not appear to have publicly addressed the high volume of salmon deaths in the river, despite having advocated for the removal of the Klamath River dams for years. American Rivers did not respond to requests for comment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been around natural disasters all of my life, and I\u2019ve never seen anything like this,\u201d Siskiyou County Supervisor Ray Haupt\u00a0told<\/a>\u00a0the California Globe. \u201cThe river is essentially dead, as is everything in it.\u201d\u00a0(RELATED: Scientists Look To Fight Climate Change By Dumping 6,000 Gallons Of Chemicals Into Ocean Near Martha\u2019s Vineyard)<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
Water samples collected by locals demonstrate the condition of water extracted from affected segments of the Klamath River. (Photo via the office of Republican California Rep. Doug LaMalfa)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

American Rivers has received at least $3.6 million from left-of-center grantmaking and environmentalist organizations \u2014 including the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation<\/a>, the Resources Legacy Fund<\/a>, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation<\/a> and the Water Foundation<\/a> \u2014 since 2020, according to a review of tax filings. The New Venture Fund, one of the grantmaking nonprofits overseen by left-wing dark money behemoth Arabella Advisors<\/a>, gave American Rivers nearly $400,000 between 2020 and 2022, according<\/a> to tax<\/a> filings<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are still several other<\/a> dams on the river that are set to come down as part of the removal project. Many property owners are seeing the values of their property along the water drop because of changes driven by the dam removal, LaMalfa told the DCNF.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPeople with homes in the area are seeing their home values drop, even in one case their actual house might drop into the canyon because the water table has shifted,\u201d LaMalfa told the DCNF. \u201cAnd people with loans on their homes no longer have the value to keep their equity up.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For its part, KRRC has established a mitigation fund<\/a> to pay locals who may be adversely impacted by the consequences of dam removal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) manages the Fall Creek Fish Hatchery,\u201d which is the facility that released the ill-fated salmon into the waterway, a KRRC spokesperson told the DCNF. \u201cThe Department determined the mortality of salmon fry was caused by remaining dam infrastructure, not by dam removal. Fortunately, that infrastructure will be removed along with the rest of the dam this year. In the meantime, CDFW will be trucking fish around the dam to avoid this occurring with upcoming releases from the hatchery. \u201c<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter\u2019s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact\u00a0<\/em>licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A well-funded environmentalist group played a key role in the push to remove dams in the Pacific Northwest\u2019s Klamath River ahead of premature deaths of thousands of salmon.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":121246920,"featured_media":313049,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[691818068,691827849,691827848,691822281],"class_list":["post-313039","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-california","tag-dam","tag-fish-and-wildlife","tag-oregon","fallback-thumbnail"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/001aa-Klamath-Overview.jpg?fit=1734%2C1176&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/paxLW1-1jr1","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":271644,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=271644","url_meta":{"origin":313039,"position":0},"title":"Left Coast Closes the Dam\u00a0Lights","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"08\/05\/2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Removing the Copco 2 Dam takes deconstruction crews one step closer to drawdowns of the remaining three reservoirs next January.","rel":"","context":"In \"CO2\"","block_context":{"text":"CO2","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=co2"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/0Copco-2-PacificCorp-web.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/0Copco-2-PacificCorp-web.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/0Copco-2-PacificCorp-web.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/0Copco-2-PacificCorp-web.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/0Copco-2-PacificCorp-web.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":361705,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=361705","url_meta":{"origin":313039,"position":1},"title":"Alaska Energy Shenanigans: Eklutna Dam and the RPS (Part I: Background)","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"01\/12\/2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Alaskans are waking up to a sneak attack on electric affordability and reliability by agenda-driven special interests and their pliable politicians. The latest incident concerns the state\u2019s third largest hydro project, which has become a Trojan Horse for Green New Deal programs. \u201cCronyism, abuse and manipulation of our critical energy\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"Eklutna Hydro Dam Project\"","block_context":{"text":"Eklutna Hydro Dam Project","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=eklutna-hydro-dam-project"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/0-EPP.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/0-EPP.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/0-EPP.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/0-EPP.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/0-EPP.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":291805,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=291805","url_meta":{"origin":313039,"position":2},"title":"Biden\u2019s Dam Removal Plan and Its Impact on Electrical Supply","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"12\/18\/2023","format":false,"excerpt":"In a recent development, the Biden administration, in concert with environmental groups and Native American tribes, has set in motion a plan that could lead to the removal of four hydroelectric dams in Washington state.","rel":"","context":"In \"CO2\"","block_context":{"text":"CO2","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=co2"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/00117_met_SnakeRiver-1226x0-c-default.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/00117_met_SnakeRiver-1226x0-c-default.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/00117_met_SnakeRiver-1226x0-c-default.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/00117_met_SnakeRiver-1226x0-c-default.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/00117_met_SnakeRiver-1226x0-c-default.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":332738,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=332738","url_meta":{"origin":313039,"position":3},"title":"The real threat to salmon isn\u2019t hydroelectric dams (ft. Todd Myers)","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"06\/13\/2024","format":false,"excerpt":"In Episode 438 of District of Conservation, Gabriella speaks with Todd Myers of Washington Policy Center. Todd discusses his work with WPC, why Washington State has wacky environmental policies, the importance of Washington Initiative 2117, his participation in Gabriella\u2019s forthcoming Conservation Nation video on hydropower, and much more.","rel":"","context":"In \"\u2060Snake and Columbia River dams\"","block_context":{"text":"\u2060Snake and Columbia River dams","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=%e2%81%a0snake-and-columbia-river-dams"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/00Todd-Gabriella-Hydropower.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/00Todd-Gabriella-Hydropower.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/00Todd-Gabriella-Hydropower.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/00Todd-Gabriella-Hydropower.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/00Todd-Gabriella-Hydropower.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":383643,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=383643","url_meta":{"origin":313039,"position":4},"title":"Saving the Grid, Not the Slogans: Trump Halts Dam Demolition","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"06\/18\/2025","format":false,"excerpt":"In a long-overdue course correction,\u00a0President Trump has pulled the plug on one of the Biden administration\u2019s more outlandish energy-environment stunts\u2014the so-called Resilient Columbia Basin Agreement. Heralded by green activists and their political patrons as a bold step for salmon recovery and \u201cclimate justice,\u201d the agreement was, in fact, a $1\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"Biden Admin\"","block_context":{"text":"Biden Admin","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=biden-admin"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/0Screenshot-2025-06-18-111952.png?fit=1200%2C732&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/0Screenshot-2025-06-18-111952.png?fit=1200%2C732&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/0Screenshot-2025-06-18-111952.png?fit=1200%2C732&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/0Screenshot-2025-06-18-111952.png?fit=1200%2C732&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/0Screenshot-2025-06-18-111952.png?fit=1200%2C732&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":445469,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=445469","url_meta":{"origin":313039,"position":5},"title":"Waste and fraud allegations plague ESA salmon recovery program","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"05\/20\/2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Allegations of salmon recovery grant fraud and mismanagement center on billions of federal dollars in public funds failing to restore declining populations, with critics alleging misused funds, misrepresented projects, and ineffective, self-perpetuating, science-grant ecosystems.","rel":"","context":"In \"Endangered Species Act (ESA)\"","block_context":{"text":"Endangered Species Act (ESA)","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=endangered-species-act-esa"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/0Salmon-swim-up.jpg?fit=1200%2C814&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/0Salmon-swim-up.jpg?fit=1200%2C814&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/0Salmon-swim-up.jpg?fit=1200%2C814&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/0Salmon-swim-up.jpg?fit=1200%2C814&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/0Salmon-swim-up.jpg?fit=1200%2C814&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/313039","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/121246920"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=313039"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/313039\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":313050,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/313039\/revisions\/313050"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/313049"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=313039"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=313039"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=313039"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}