Klamath River reclaims its channel through a stunning canyon following dam removal

The Klamath River in California has reclaimed its historic channel through a remote, spectacular canyon now that 35-foot-high Copco 2 dam has been removed. The dam, the first of four slated for removal to improve fish runs and river health, had diverted the river into tunnels, piping and a powerhouse that bypassed the canyon for nearly a century. No more. The dam is gone, the diversion tunnel is being closed off, and the river is now flowing through 1.7 miles of canyon that had been “dewatered” since the dam was built in 1925.