Three new episodes of “Our Beautiful Planet” available for streaming
Apr 29, 2024
We are thrilled to announce that three episodes of Our Beautiful Planet will be available to stream soon. The episodes explore the historic Klamath River dam removal and restoration project, read more about the individual films below.
Resilience on the River
The Klamath River is in trouble. Its once abundant salmon population has dropped to dangerously low levels, with some species on the brink of extinction. What caused the decline of the salmon, a fish that is vital to the people living along the river? And how did a grassroots campaign, led by indigenous community members, change the course of the Klamath River’s future?
Restoring the Balance
In the rugged hills of Northern California’s Klamath River Basin, historic efforts are underway to rescue an ecosystem in crisis. For millennia, the tribes indigenous in this region have lived in harmony with nature, subsisting on the bountiful salmon inhabiting the river and its tributaries. But in the 20th century, the construction of four hydroelectric dams on the lower Klamath drastically altered the natural functions of the river and plunged the region into ecological turmoil. Today, the once-abundant salmon populations teeter on the brink of extinction and the many consequences of damming the river now plague the lower Klamath basin. Can an ambitious restoration project heal the river and save the animals and people whose lives depend on it…before it’s too late?
Damage Control
When we tap into a river’s power by building a dam, we can gain benefits such as flood control, irrigation, and electricity. But these structures can also become burdens, threatening safety and harming our ecosystems. The largest dam removal project in the history of the United States is now taking place on the Klamath River, with four dams slated for removal. Can this project be a blueprint for dealing with aging dams everywhere?