One year after the largest dam removal project in recorded history, salmon have successfully returned to the headwaters of the Klamath River, a region they had been absent from for over a century, marking a profound ecological and cultural victory. This momentous achievement is chronicled and contextualized in Amy Bowers Cordalis’s new book, The Water Remembers, which explores the decades-long struggle to protect the Klamath River and the ancestral way of life of the Yurok Tribe. Cordalis weaves together memoir, historical narrative, in-depth legal analysis, and traditional Yurok storytelling to recount her personal journey and the tribe’s pivotal role in advocating for the dam removals. Her involvement spans from witnessing a devastating fish kill in 2002 as a tribal fisheries intern to her current position as general counsel for the Yurok Tribe. "I felt really compelled to write this at a time when it could end on such a high note, so that we could show the world how Indigenous resistance, Indigenous resilience, Indigenous knowledge, can lead to these massive victories," Cordalis stated, emphasizing the book’s core message of hope.

Just days before her interview, Cordalis was actively engaged in river conservation efforts with members of her nonprofit organization, Ridges to Riffles, and staff from the Karuk Tribe. Their work involved tagging salmon to support crucial habitat restoration initiatives. To date, collective efforts have successfully replanted an estimated 19 billion native seeds within the former reservoir areas, and extensive projects are underway to rehabilitate 20,000 acres of vital spawning grounds, with restoration work slated to continue through 2028 and beyond. In a reflective conversation, Cordalis shared insights into the intergenerational aspects of this work, the deep connection to the land and water, and the ongoing journey of river stewardship.

Reflecting on the research process for The Water Remembers, Cordalis described it as an intensely emotional undertaking that deepened her respect for the perseverance of her ancestors and previous generations. Their unwavering fight, often at great personal risk, was essential for the continuity of the Yurok people and their way of life. The successes achieved on the Klamath River, particularly the dam removals, are directly attributable to the enduring legacy of those who fought tirelessly before. Cordalis recounted growing up hearing about the "fish wars," a period of profound trauma for the Yurok people and her family. Despite having a legal right to fish, as was their ancestral practice, Yurok fishermen faced aggressive federal enforcement, with U.S. Marshals in riot gear, armed with machine guns and utilizing powerful jet boats, often confronting them. These clashes were violent, yet the Yurok ultimately prevailed, securing their right to fish, a right that others enjoyed without impediment. Cordalis characterized this as a grave injustice, a criminalization of their cultural practices, and a clear instance of racial profiling. The book also incorporates details from transcripts of interviews conducted with her family in the 1980s by an oral historian, providing a rich tapestry of lived experience. The latter portion of the book details Cordalis’s own story, allowing her to reflect on her legal career and better understand how previous generations paved the way for the monumental achievement of dam removal on the Klamath, positioning it as the largest river restoration project in history and a multi-generational epic journey culminating in a significant win.

Cordalis drew parallels between her own experiences and those of her great-grandmother, Geneva, who once faced legal repercussions for bootlegging salmon. Geneva witnessed firsthand the environmental devastation wrought by canneries and timber companies on Yurok lands. Cordalis, in turn, experienced the devastating impact of the river’s first major fish kill. She views the act of writing the book as a powerful opportunity for reflection, recognizing that injustice served as a profound source of trauma for her. Her personal response to such trauma manifested as a relentless drive for action, channeling her grief and hurt into her legal studies with an intensity born from the understanding that her family’s future and the future of her people depended on it. Cordalis hopes The Water Remembers can serve as an antidote to the current political and environmental crises, demonstrating that even the most marginalized communities can enact significant change. She underscores the critical importance of coalitions, finding common ground, and supporting one another, acknowledging that failure is a possibility but that success often hinges on identifying and pursuing a single effective path. The removal of the Klamath dams, she notes, is a testament to what can be accomplished when people collaborate, providing a blueprint that encompasses grassroots movements, legal strategies, and political alliances. More importantly, she hopes the book resonates on an emotional level, inspiring readers to believe in their own capacity to make a difference. While acknowledging the current environmental challenges, Cordalis emphasizes a spirit of continued resistance and collective action, a commitment to persistent effort until victory is achieved.

The persistent nature of environmental advocacy is a recurring theme, as highlighted by the experience of Cordalis’s great-uncle, Ray Mattz. Despite winning a landmark Supreme Court case affirming Yurok fishing rights, the federal government continued to obstruct Yurok access to fishing. Once these barriers were removed, the salmon runs had already begun to collapse, shifting the focus to the imperative of dam removal. This generational struggle underscores the understanding that the work of stewardship is never complete; there will always be new challenges to address and rights to defend, requiring an ongoing commitment from one generation to the next. Cordalis defines this commitment as stewardship, a conscious choice to respond to the needs of the land, water, and wildlife. Drawing on the collective experience of Indigenous peoples globally, she emphasizes their historical role as stewards, dedicated to providing what the environment requires. The Yurok worldview posits that Yurok Country was created not only for humans but also for the land, water, and creatures, necessitating a life lived in balance. This balanced existence ensures perpetual sufficiency, embodying a philosophy of sustainability. Such a perspective entails a profound responsibility to the natural world, coupled with the immense privilege of benefiting from its abundance. Cordalis advocates for a re-evaluation of humanity’s relationship with the environment, urging a broader adoption of this stewardship ethic.

With the dams now removed, the immediate need is for comprehensive river restoration. Through Ridges to Riffles, Cordalis’s nonprofit, efforts are underway to implement restoration projects in the areas formerly inundated by reservoirs. An intertribal group, integrating traditional ecological knowledge with modern scientific approaches, serves as an advisory committee for this restoration work. The initiative also seeks to re-establish a more natural hydrograph for the river, demonstrating a responsive approach to the river’s evolving needs and reinforcing the role of stewards in maintaining ecological balance. Cordalis views this work not just as a duty but as a profound honor.

The memory of Cordalis and her siblings gazing at the dams, expressing a wish to simply "blow them up," took on a surreal significance when she was invited to press the detonator for the demolition of COPCO 1 Dam. It was a profound moment, particularly as it coincided with her birthday. She had not anticipated being directly involved in such a pivotal act. The experience evoked the deep-seated pain she once felt when looking at those dams, akin to witnessing a loved one in prolonged suffering with no apparent recourse. The dam’s removal brought a sense of immense relief and healing, as if she were shedding tears for multiple generations of her family. Cordalis believes in the enduring connection to ancestors and feels they can rest more peacefully knowing their sacrifices led to such a significant positive outcome. She asserts that anyone can contribute to meaningful change by working in partnership, in harmony with nature, and with genuine kindness towards one another.

The impact of the dam removals is already evident, with reports indicating a widespread return of salmon. In August, Cordalis had the opportunity to harvest salmon near her village, Rek-woi, at the river’s mouth. She observed that these salmon were larger, stronger, and more resilient than any she had seen in approximately five to six years. These fish have now journeyed upstream past Iron Gate Dam, reaching Keno Dam, Link River Dam, and Upper Klamath Lake, venturing into the Williamson and Sprague Rivers – a distance of roughly 300 river miles from Rek-woi. This remarkable migration, taking several months, is facilitated by the river’s dramatically improved health; it is now "fiercer," with cooler, cleaner water. The removal of the dams has also symbolically reunited communities that have been separated for over a century. The health of the fish that travel from the lower river all the way to the Wood River highlights the interconnectedness of the entire Klamath Basin. This shared experience with the salmon is fostering a renewed sense of community and providing an opportunity to re-examine relationships within the basin. Historically plagued by water disputes, the Klamath Basin now has an opportunity to rebuild communities and foster greater unity. Cordalis draws a profound connection between the health of the Klamath River and the well-being of individuals, likening the healing of the river to a healing process within people. She believes it allows for a remembrance of what a healthy planet felt like, fulfilling a deep human yearning to reconnect with nature. Engaging in meaningful work, dedicating oneself to important causes, and embracing the role of stewards fosters internal healing and a powerful sense of remembrance, which she describes as a profoundly positive experience.