In this image provided by Dale Meurer, former Klamath Tribes Chairman Jeff Mitchell watches as construction crews remove the final cofferdam that was left of Iron Gate Dam, allowing the Klamath River to flow through on Aug. 28, 2024, near Hornbrook, Calif. (Dale Meurer via AP)
FILE - The Klamath River winds runs along Highway 96 near Happy Camp, Calif., June 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Nathan Howard, File)
In this image provided by Matthew Johan Mais, Molli Myers and her husband Frankie hold hands as they watch construction crews work to remove the final cofferdam that was left of Iron Gate Dam, allowing the Klamath River to flow through on Aug. 28, 2024, near Hornbrook, Calif. (Matthew Johan Mais via AP)
FILE - The Hillman family, from left, Leaf, Lisa, and Chaas, hug as construction crews removed the final cofferdam that was left of Iron Gate Dam allowing the Klamath River to run freely near Hornbrook, Calif., Aug. 28, 2024. (Carlos Avila Gonzalez/San Francisco Chronicle via AP, File)
FILE - From left, Kenneth Brink, Lisa Hillman, Leaf Hillman, and Chaas Hillman, members of the Karuk Tribe, take in the moment as construction crews removed the final cofferdam that was left of Iron Gate Dam allowing the Klamath River to run in its original path near Hornbrook, Calif., Aug. 28, 2024. (Carlos Avila Gonzalez/San Francisco Chronicle via AP, File)
In this image provided by Matthew Johan Mais, Yurok elder Jacqueline Winter poses for a photo near the Klamath River on Aug. 25, 2024, near Hornbrook, Calif. (Matthew Johan Mais via AP)
FILE - The Iron Gate Dam powerhouse and spillway are seen on the lower Klamath River near Hornbrook, Calif., March 2, 2020. (AP Photo/Gillian Flaccus, File)
FILE - Construction crews remove the top of the cofferdam that was left of Iron Gate Dam allowing the Klamath River to run in its original path near Hornbrook, Calif., Aug. 28, 2024. (Carlos Avila Gonzalez/San Francisco Chronicle via AP, File)
FILE - The Klamath River flows where Iron Gate Reservoir once was as work to remove of the Iron Gate and Copco Dams continues on the Klamath River near Hornbook, Calif., July 25, 2024. (Carlos Avila Gonzalez/San Francisco Chronicle via AP, File)