Agreements to tear out four dams on the Klamath River and rebuild its storied salmon fisheries were signed in Oregon's Capitol on Thursday, marking a major milestone for tribes, fishermen and farmers who put aside years of conflict to negotiate the deals.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski and U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar were on hand to sign the historic pacts, joined by the chairmen of three Klamath River tribes and dozens of other stakeholders from the basin. The ceremony in the rotunda of the Capitol building in Salem drew hundreds.

”These agreements bring together groups that for years stood toe-to-toe and now stand side-by-side,” Schwarzenegger said.

Schwarzenegger said that the creation of the landmark deals was “not an easy lift,” but that they may provide a model to fix other conflicts around the country.

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