The Push To Free America’s Rivers

March 29, 2026

We look at why thousands of dams are coming down across the U.S. and what changes happen once a river is no longer held back. In places like the Klamath River, the shift is already visible, offering a clearer picture of what restoration can look like and lead to.

Guests:

Ann Willis, California regional director, American Rivers, senior advisor, American Rivers Action Fund.
Amy Bowers Cordalis, Yurok tribal member, founder, Ridges to Riffles, author, The Water Remembers.

Across the country, tens of thousands of dams block the natural flow of rivers. While many were built for good reason, providing power, flood control and water storage, experts say a large number have outlived their lifespan.

In 1911, the first of four dams was built on the Klamath when Cordalis’s grandmother was just a child. Three more dams were completed by 1964.