Dam! That’s the sound fish make when they hit their head. Dams can threaten salmon populations by blocking their migration routes, altering their habitat, and warming the water. Dams can also prevent salmon from migrating between the ocean and their spawning grounds. Dam removal has been a major issue throughout the Pacific Northwest. 2023 was a major milestone year for dam removal in the U.S., with the initiation of the largest dam removal project in the country on the Klamath River in California. The Elwha dam removal Washington state in 2014 in was a major step in reestablishing long lost salmon runs to the river.