Eel River: Reconnecting Salmon and People

The Eel River is the third-largest watershed in California, and it was once one of the state’s great salmon runs, with as many as a million salmon returning annually. For a century, dams have blocked fish from reaching historic high-quality spawning grounds, and it is estimated that less than 5% of the historic fish population remains in the Eel River. In 2023, the NGO American Rivers named the Eel River one of the most endangered rivers in America. Removing the Eel River dams could restore access to more than 200 miles of habitat, but how will these changes affect the many communities connected to the river? Filmmaker Cameron Nielsen spoke to people on all sides of the issue in this visually arresting short documentary.