Chinook Salmon Spawning in Upper Klamath River for the First Time in 60 Years
For the first time since 1961, fall-run Chinook salmon are returning to the upper reaches of the Klamath River, marking a major milestone in California’s largest dam removal project.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) confirmed that adult Chinook salmon have been observed spawning in newly accessible habitat behind the former Iron Gate Dam.
On October 15, spawning fall-run Chinook were spotted in Jenny Creek, a Klamath River tributary located 4.3 miles upstream from the former dam site. This comes just weeks after the final fish barrier at Iron Gate Dam was breached on September 26. The salmon were also seen returning to Fall Creek, a previously inaccessible tributary, and CDFW’s newly rebuilt Fall Creek Fish Hatchery, located 7.5 miles upstream.
These sightings mark the first return of anadromous fish to the upper Klamath in over six decades and signal significant progress in reestablishing self-sustaining fish populations. In addition to the Chinook, an adult Pacific lamprey was observed passing through CDFW’s fish counting station in Jenny Creek on October 1.
The removal of four dams along the Klamath River aims to restore 420 miles of habitat, supporting Tribal, commercial, and recreational fisheries. CDFW’s Klamath River Anadromous Fishery Reintroduction and Monitoring Plan will guide the ongoing repopulation efforts, with final estimates expected in January 2025.
The newly constructed $35 million Fall Creek Fish Hatchery is also playing a crucial role, with spawning operations set to begin next week, producing millions of fall-run Chinook and coho salmon annually.
