Klamath River Renewal Project Earns International Recognition for Fish Passage Innovation

The Klamath River Renewal Project, the largest dam removal and river restoration effort in U.S. history, has received the Distinguished Project Award from the International Fish Passage Conference. The award was presented at the conference’s 15th annual meeting in May at UC Davis and is shared by the Klamath River Renewal Corporation (KRRC), McMillen, and RES.

The Distinguished Project Award recognizes projects that demonstrate innovation and technical excellence in advancing fish passage, river connectivity, and habitat improvements for endangered and native species.

Completed in October 2024, the Klamath River Renewal Project removed four hydroelectric dams over a 16-month period, reopening more than 400 miles of historic habitat for salmon, steelhead, and lamprey that had been inaccessible for over a century. The effort spanned approximately 60 kilometers of river and restored 2,200 acres of former reservoir land, along with 22 miles of mainstem and tributary channels. Ecological recovery is now underway, supported by ongoing restoration and monitoring.

“This project is, at its core, a fish passage barrier removal effort on a massive scale,” said Dan Chase, Director of Fisheries, Aquatics & Design for RES’ Western Region. “The combination of dam removal and large-scale restoration will provide ecological uplift for endangered and native species in a way that hasn’t been done before.”

RES played a central role in restoring the landscape following dam removal. The team led revegetation across 2,200 acres using native plant species and restored 3.4 miles of key tributaries to support spawning, rearing, and migration.

“Our team collected and propagated more than 20 billion native seeds and grew tens of thousands of trees, shrubs, and plugs to stabilize and restore the landscape,” said Dave Coffman, RES Director for Northern California and Southern Oregon. “At the same time, we developed or supported 18 resource management plans required to keep the project on track. It was an intensive effort delivered on a tight timeline.”

Beyond engineering and ecological outcomes, the project represents a broader milestone in river restoration and community impact. It has reconnected ecosystems while supporting the return of culturally and ecologically significant fish species to the Klamath River.

The International Fish Passage Conference, established in 2011, brings together global experts in engineering, biology, and resource management to advance solutions for fish passage and aquatic connectivity.