California Unveils New Plan for Restoring Salmon and Steelhead in a Free-Flowing Klamath River
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has released a comprehensive 60-page plan to guide the reintroduction and monitoring of key fish species, including Chinook salmon, coho salmon, steelhead, and Pacific lamprey, in a newly undammed Klamath River. This comes after the removal of the last two barriers at the former Iron Gate and Copco No. 1 dam sites, making the river free-flowing for the first time in over a century.
The primary goal of the “Klamath River Anadromous Fishery Reintroduction and Restoration Monitoring Plan” is to establish sustainable populations of these species to support ecological balance and benefit Tribal, commercial, and recreational fisheries. The plan emphasizes a natural recolonization strategy, allowing these ocean-going fish species to access approximately 420 miles of newly available spawning and rearing habitats.
CDFW Director Charlton H. Bonham emphasized the significance of this historic undertaking, stating, “If we can mostly stay out of the way, these fish populations will heal themselves, sustain themselves, and help heal and sustain the communities that cherish them.”
The plan was developed in collaboration with Native American Tribes, the State of Oregon, NOAA Fisheries, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It incorporates an adaptive management approach, allowing strategies to evolve based on ongoing monitoring and coordination with fisheries partners.
Additionally, the restoration plan highlights the importance of tributaries like Scotch, Camp, Jenny, Shovel, and Fall creeks. These waterways, now accessible to fish, provide vital habitats with cooler waters that will help sustain fish populations, especially during warmer months.
Central to the restoration efforts is the newly constructed Fall Creek Fish Hatchery, a $35 million facility intended to boost salmon populations in the upper Klamath River basin. Built by PacifiCorp, the hatchery replaces the former Iron Gate Fish Hatchery, and aims to produce 3.25 million fall-run Chinook salmon and 75,000 coho salmon annually.
As restoration efforts continue, this ambitious project is poised to make a significant impact on the future of Pacific salmon in the West, fostering both ecological recovery and cultural revitalization in the region.
