To launch this historic celebration, Ríos to Rivers’ Paddle Tribal Waters Program—born from the fight for dam removal on the Klamath—will lead the first-ever 30-day source-to-sea descent of the newly undammed Klamath River. For the final three days of the expedition, the group will be joined by our international Kayakimün (Chile) and Amazonian Rivers Initiative (Bolivia) programs, along with individuals from basins around the world, as a symbol of global solidarity. Guided by Paddle Tribal Waters youth and team members, this unprecedented journey will navigate waters that have been blocked for generations, reclaiming the river’s natural course through a month-long whitewater expedition.

More than a celebration, this journey is a powerful statement—a call to action to continue the fight for river restoration by removing the two remaining dams at the Klamath’s headwaters. On a global scale, this expedition challenges the myth of "green" mega-hydro development, proving that free-flowing rivers are far more valuable than the temporary energy produced by dams, especially in the face of climate change. This is a turning point—a testament to resilience, cultural renewal, and the urgent need to protect our rivers for generations to come.