Reconnect Klamath focuses on the shared values of Klamath Basin communities.
In order to thrive, we must reconnect our ecologies, cultures, and economies from the mouth of the Klamath River to its headwaters.
One Basin, One Community
We support efforts by the Klamath’s diverse rural communities to collaborate and communicate on solutions to common problems. If we are to survive and thrive into the future, we have to do it together.
Below the Former Dam Sites, Restoration Continues at McConnell Bar
When the construction phase of Klamath dam removal wrapped up in late 2024, nobody involved treated it as a finish line. The dams were the single largest obstacle between salmon and hundreds of miles of habitat. But deconstructing them was not enough to undo the damage that the dams themselves, 20th century mining, and the destructive impacts of the 2022 McKinney Fire had on this watershed. Essential restoration work to address those impacts is happening now, reach by reach. One of the most ambitious examples is taking shape just downriver from the former dam sites. Continue Reading Below the Former Dam Sites, Restoration Continues at McConnell Bar
Clean Water is Good for Business
Whether you are a fisherman, farmer, outfitter, or business owner in a riverside community, good water quality is key to your livelihood. The Klamath River has suffered from poor water quality caused largely by the four hydroelectric dams that will be removed by the end of 2024. However, the rest of the watershed still struggles with water quality challenges. Reconnect Klamath promotes cooperative efforts led by Tribes, local governments, non-profits, and irrigation districts to improve water quality.
Water Conservation
The Klamath River once hosted prolific runs of salmon, steelhead, sturgeon, and lamprey. The Upper Basin is home to c’waam and koptu, sucker species found only in the Klamath along with trophy-sized redband trout. We support community efforts to restore habitat that in turn will support in-river and ocean fisheries, a local recreational economy, and sustainable agriculture.
Local Stewardship
Wildlife that depends on the Klamath Wildlife Refuges also needs water to survive. Reconnect Klamath promotes a basin-wide view to allocating limited water resources to support resident and migratory bird populations, native fish, and other wildlife.