Looking downstream the Klamath River at Keno Dam, Klamath County, Ore.
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. — On Aug. 28, the Bureau of Reclamation will temporarily increase flows in the Klamath River to support the Yurok Tribe's annual Boat Dance Ceremony scheduled for Aug. 30, reflecting Reclamation's ongoing commitment to honoring Tribal traditions while responsibly managing water resources throughout the Klamath Basin.
The coordinated flow release is designed to help provide suitable river conditions for the ceremony, an important cultural tradition of the Yurok Tribe, whose people have always maintained a deep connection to the Klamath River.
"Water management in the Klamath Basin requires balancing many important needs," said Reclamation’s Acting Regional Director Adam Nickels. "Supporting the Yurok Tribe's Boat Dance Ceremony demonstrates Reclamation's commitment to working collaboratively with tribal partners and recognizing the cultural importance of the river while continuing to meet our broader water management responsibilities."
The temporary operational adjustment is the result of careful planning and coordination with the Yurok Tribe and other basin partners. Reclamation manages river operations to support multiple, often competing, objectives, including tribal trust responsibilities, endangered species, water deliveries, flood management, and ecosystem health.
The flow increase underscores Reclamation's commitment to its government-to-government relationship with federally recognized tribes and its broader efforts to incorporate tribal perspectives and cultural considerations into water management decisions whenever possible.
Reclamation will continue monitoring river conditions throughout the operation and coordinating closely with its partners to support effective water management across the basin.
For more information about Reclamation's work in the Klamath Basin, visit Klamath Basin Area Office | California-Great Basin.
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The Bureau of Reclamation is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior and is the nation's largest wholesale water supplier and second largest producer of hydroelectric power. Our facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation opportunities, and environmental benefits.
