Science On Tap: The Undammed Klamath – Tribal Knowledge of Water Resources

The summer of 2024 marked the largest dam removal in world history. Four dams were removed from the Klamath River, which runs through Oregon and California. Dam removal was caused in large part by the push from tribes local to the area.

Come have a discussion with Civil Water Resource/ Restoration Engineer Brook M Thompson from the Yurok and Karuk Tribes, who has been involved in dam removal advocacy since she was seven years old. She’ll cover:

• How does one remove a dam? And what was so bad about the dam anyway?
• How traditional ecological knowledge can benefit successful restoration efforts?
• What can we expect now the dams are removed? What is next for bringing back the salmon population?
• Why are interdisciplinary fields required for successful restoration projects?
• What research is currently being conducted on the Klamath River post-dam removal?
• How you can build a connection with the local native community and support local restoration efforts.  

Brook M Thompson is from the Yurok & Karuk tribes of California and grew up on her ancestral river, the Klamath. The deaths there of tens of thousands of salmon encouraged her to become a water rights activist and a water resource/restoration engineer. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Environmental Studies at UC Santa Cruz, researching Klamath salmon, restoration cooperation with tribes, and water policy. She has an M.S. in Environmental Engineering from Stanford and a B.S. in Civil Engineering from PSU.