Last week, Tribal youth and partners gathered at the former Iron Gate Dam site for an Indigenous Science Camp rooted in river education, cultural connection, and the celebration of restoration. As the Klamath River runs free through areas that were blocked by dams for over a century, young people are now rafting through landscapes that haven’t seen salmon for generations.
“Klamath River families worked for decades for dam removal”, said Regina Chichizola, Executive Director at Save California Salmon. “It is so special that we get to raft through the areas where the dams used to be, and host field trips and camps for local youth so they can see salmon spawning and experience a restored river that is not full of toxic algae.”
The two-day camp, held June 20–21, included hands-on science activities, traditional ecological knowledge (TEK), and a rafting trip through newly restored river sections, including through the Iron Gate dam site. It was co-hosted by the Karuk Tribe, Yurok Tribe, Mid Klamath Watershed Council, Save California Salmon, and RES. The camp is part of a larger effort by Save California Salmon and Klamath River Tribes to make sure local youth can be part of, and learn from the historic restoration on the Klamath. They will be hosting events on the river all summer and field trips in the fall…