>salmon were still breeding there. The "return" is an unwarranted claim, for they never stopped coming and spawning.

let's read

"Less than a month after four towering dams on the Klamath River were demolished, hundreds of salmon made it into waters they have been cut off from for decades"

what does that mean

"salmon are once more returning to spawn in cool creeks that have been cut off to them for generations."

"salmon, which were cut off from their historic habitat"

"salmon that have quickly made it into previously inaccessible tributaries"

so...you're saying that the salmon are able to access places they haven't been able to access? that's like you're trying to tell us that the damn dam was what was preventing it. it's like the dam being removed was the reason for these salmon to gain access to the spots. i'm still confused. /s