Audubon Society Hosts Program on Klamath Dam Removal Impacts

The Redwood Region Audubon Society will present an informative program led by Alison O’Dowd on November 20, 2023, focusing on the ecological impacts of the Klamath Dam removal. The event will take place at the Six Rivers Masonic Lodge, located at 251 Bayside Road in Arcata, California. Attendees are invited to enjoy refreshments at 19:00, with the program commencing at 19:30. For those unable to attend in person, a Zoom link is available on the organization’s website, rras.org.

This program, titled “Food Web Responses to Klamath Dam Removal: An Examination of Salmonid Food Resources Downstream of Iron Gate Dam,” addresses significant environmental changes following the removal of four hydroelectric dams on the Klamath River. According to a press release from the Audubon Society, this event marks the largest dam removal in U.S. history. The removal has led to improved water quality and enhanced access to habitats for salmonids, a group of fish that includes salmon and trout.

Alison O’Dowd, a professor in the environmental science and management department at Cal Poly Humboldt, will explore the food web responses affected by the dam removal. The program will highlight the sediment fluxes resulting from the removal, which were anticipated to have short-term negative effects on habitat and water quality downstream of the former dam sites.

During the late spring, a crucial time for juvenile salmonids as they grow and migrate, O’Dowd’s research examines how these changes have impacted food resources in the ecosystem. The findings from her study are poised to inform future dam removals that may affect sensitive life stages of anadromous fish and their invertebrate prey.

This event represents an important opportunity for community members and environmental enthusiasts to gain insights into ecological restoration efforts and the broader implications of dam removal on river ecosystems. The information shared during this program could influence future environmental policies and practices regarding aquatic habitats.

The Redwood Region Audubon Society continues to engage the community with programs that educate on crucial environmental issues, reinforcing the importance of understanding our natural ecosystems.