Salmon Are Surging Far Beyond Expectations After Klamath River Dam Removal

Just months after the historic removal of four major dams on the Klamath River, scientists and tribal leaders are stunned by what they’re seeing—salmon are returning in far greater numbers, and much faster, than anyone expected.

For the first time in more than a century, Chinook salmon have made it all the way back to the upper Klamath Basin, swimming past the former dam sites and into the Williamson and Sprague Rivers. Experts initially predicted it could take up to a decade before even a small number of fish returned. Instead, the Klamath Tribes’ Ambodat Department estimates that at least 100 fall Chinook are already in Upper Klamath Lake this season.

“There is a rumble throughout the Klamath Watershed,” the Tribes shared on social media. “The salmon, not seen in these parts for over a century, are guided by ancestral knowledge and their natural instincts to the mouth of the Klamath and the tributaries. Waq’li’sii Salmon, welcome home!”

The salmon’s return has exceeded all scientific models and sparked new optimism for the river’s recovery. Against fears that poor water quality below Keno Dam would end their journey, the fish pushed through and reached cleaner tributaries, a sign of resilience that’s inspiring communities throughout the region.

The Klamath Tribes continue leading large-scale restoration projects, including the 14,000-acre Agency Barnes wetlands, to ensure that the salmon’s unexpected success becomes a sustainable comeback for generations to come.