The greatest dam removal in American history has received approval from the federal government, opening the door for the Klamath River watershed in California and Oregon to undergo unparalleled restoration.

The removal of four dams along the lower Klamath River has received final permission from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, restoring access to more than 300 miles of salmon habitat and enhancing water quality.

The Lower Klamath Project license surrender and the anticipated removal of the four project developments (the dams) have been approved by FERC after years of negotiations, the agency stated on Thursday.

This comes after a decades-long push from river basin tribes whose livelihood and culture are intertwined with the river. The Yurok Tribe told ABC News that if the salmon disappear from the river – so do they as a people.

Tribes living in river basins, whose way of life and cultures are entwined with the river, have been pushing for this for decades. According to the Yurok Tribe, if the salmon disappear from the river, then too will they.

“For this ecosystem, which we are a part of, salmon are a keystone species. And if a time comes when there is no longer any salmon in the river, our ecosystem will have completely failed and will no longer be able to support life as we know it on this planet “Frankie Myers, the Yurok Tribe’s vice chair, said.

In addition to being an ecological restoration, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown described it as “an act of restorative justice,” adding that “since time immemorial, the Indigenous peoples of the Klamath Basin have preserved the lands, waters, fish, and wildlife of this treasured region.” She went on to say that the project “will not only improve its water and fish habitat but also boost our economy.”

Early 2023 will see the start of construction to strengthen the roadways surrounding the four dams, to remove the dams in early 2024.