The largest dam removal in U.S. history.

For the first time in over a century, the Klamath River flows free again—thanks to the vision, courage, and determination of the Yurok Tribe. 

In this episode of A People’s Climate, Shilpi Chhotray interviews Amy Bowers Cordalis, a member of the Yurok Tribe and leader in the largest dam removal project in U.S. history. 

From devastating fish kills and lost salmon runs to confronting corporations and navigating the law, Amy shares a story of environmental restoration, Indigenous sovereignty, and the power of nature-based solutions. 

This is a story of rivers, resistance, and the multi-layered fight—legal, political, and cultural—to heal the land and its people.

Key Topics

• Largest dam removal in U.S. history
• Indigenous-led environmental restoration and sovereignty
• Rights of Nature and legal personhood for ecosystems
• Multi-generational activism and cultural preservation
• Climate justice and regenerative nature-based solutions

Resources to Explore

• The Water Remembers by Amy Bowers Cordalis  (Bookshop) (Amazon)
• Yurok Tribe Celebrates 50-year Anniversary of Mattz v. Arnett

Credits

Presented by Counterstream Media and The Nation
Powered by Wildseeds Fund
Host: Shilpi Chhotray
Executive Producer: Mindy Ramaker
Engineer: Dennis Maxwell
Project Manager: Marianella Nuñez
Additional Research: Sarah Morgan

Learn more at apeoplesclimate.org

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