About Amy Bowers Cordalis

Indigenous-Led River Restoration and Dam Removal

Amy Bowers Cordalis led the Yurok Tribe's efforts in the largest dam removal in U.S. history, freeing the Klamath River after over a century of obstruction.[1][3][4][16] This followed the 2002 catastrophic fish kill that killed 70,000 salmon, reigniting her family's 170-year battle against U.S. government reclamation projects built without salmon ladders.[2][5][6] The dams blocked hundreds of miles of habitat, devastating salmon runs vital to Yurok culture, food, and economy; their removal in 2024 marks a triumph of tribal mobilization, legal strategy, and negotiation with corporations.[15][18][25]

Family Legacy and Multigenerational Fight

Cordalis's memoir The Water Remembers: My Indigenous Family’s Fight to Save a River and a Way of Life (Little, Brown, 2024) chronicles her ancestors' mastery of living in balance with nature and their resistance since the early 1900s dams.[2][5][12][30] From Rek-Woi village at the Klamath's mouth, her family—including narrators Geneva Mattz and Lavina Bowers—fought for salmon as the 'lifeblood' of Yurok identity.[2][15][18] The book blends memoir, history, and Indigenous resistance, highlighting how colonization wreaked havoc on the river.[23][29]

Environmental Justice, Sovereignty, and Salmon as Cultural Keystone

Salmon represent not just food and income but Yurok sovereignty and survival; Cordalis frames the fight as protecting a way of life and species rights against government and corporate interests.[5][6][7][16] She views the river as a living entity that 'remembers,' emphasizing healing through restoration one year post-removal.[4][25][33] Her work critiques federal projects from 1905-1962 that prioritized reclamation over ecology.[2][18]

Storytelling, Advocacy, and Public Engagement

As a fisherwoman, mother, and attorney, Cordalis uses storytelling to problem-solve, as seen in events at Cal Poly Humboldt, University of Denver, and Schultz Lecture on Energy.[10][11][14] She promotes her book via podcasts and talks, earning endorsements and awards like Women of Worth for spearheading restoration.[17][24][28] Appearances span Native Circles, Rising Tide, and Nature Nights, inspiring hope through Indigenous leadership.[4][13][20]

Hope, Healing, and Broader Conservation Vision

Post-removal, Cordalis sees a 'healing' Klamath, calling it a 'story of hope' amid climate challenges.[25][33] Through Ridges to Riffles, she advances Indigenous conservation linking climate, energy, finance, and entrepreneurship.[bio] Her vision integrates cultural values, legal wins, and ecological restoration for planetary health.[19][26]