“No one has done the strontium otolith work with any dam removal project anywhere. We’re chasing diversity. This project is the first to look at this question of life history diversity related to dam removal. It will tell us where the fish go, the habitats that they use, and when they leave.” – Robert Lusardi, aquatic ecologist, Center for Watershed Sciences, UC Davis 

The largest dam removal project is scheduled for completion by the end of 2024. Now, UC Davis researchers are investigating whether the removal of the Klamath River dams will support a thriving and diverse salmon population in the future. Utilizing fish ear bones (otoliths) to analyze strontium signatures in the fish and determine their geographic origins and migration patterns, the team hopes to provide answers that would not only be relevant for the Klamath River, but also to other areas with outdated dams worldwide. This research emphasizes both the environmental advantages of removing dams on river  and the cultural importance of these actions to Indigenous communities.

Listen, watch, or read to learn more about how Rob Lusardi (aquatic ecologist, UC Davis Center for Watershed Sciences), Beth Rose Middleton Manning (professor, Department of Native American Studies), and Barry McCovey (director of the Yurok Tribal Fisheries Department) are working together to help save salmon on the Klamath River. 

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Watch "Will Dam Removal Save Salmon on the Klamath River?" and check out the timestamps in the video Information to review the questions. 

Listen to "That Dam Removal Project" on the UC Davis Unfold Podcast. 

Read "The Salmon Diaries: Life Before and After Klamath Dam Removal"  in the multimedia feature story, written by Kat Kerlin, UC Davis.