Salmon and steelhead are roaring back above the recently removed Klamath dams. Now, what comes next?
One of the truly magical moments of dam removal is when the fish start returning to their historic, reconnected habitat. It is a tangible moment in a process that can take decades to accomplish, and it confirms our hopes for these rivers.
The Klamath is in this joyful, magical moment now.
The final barriers came out in August, and the first fish, a fall-run Chinook, swam through the former Iron Gate dam site soon after. Last fall, over 100 Chinook spawned above the dams, and even made it all the way into Oregon. A handful of coho and steelhead have been observed, too, and Sonar documented large numbers of fish swimming upstream past the Iron Gate site.
It’s all about monitoring
To truly understand the effectiveness of this historic dam removal project, monitoring is mandatory. It is critical to know when and where the fish are arriving, which habitats they are utilizing and how their populations are faring.
The lucky partners who are spending time on the landscape, digesting data from cameras and sonar and putting that to use include federal and state agencies and multiple tribes.
All entities working on monitoring fish returns in the basin are committed to sharing data, and their level of coordination is really impressive and commendable.
Implementation for reintroduction
Before the dams came out, TU was ready with restoration happening on the ground across state lines.
We’ve already seen success in places like Washington’s Elwha River where salmon and steelhead recolonized their former spawning grounds as well as found new spawning streams now open thanks to dam removal. Given this trend, TU knew it was critical to help build restoration plans and continue to improve habitat conditions throughout the Upper Klamath basin and former reservoirs.
After 100 years of streams without migratory fish, it is inspiring to see salmon and steelhead begin to make their way back home. To give these fish the best chance possible, TU’s Klamath Falls team is committed to expanding the scale and impact of its restoration work throughout the Upper Klamath headwaters. And we couldn’t be prouder and more excited to continue this important work.
Interested in learning more about fish monitoring and reintroduction plans on the Klamath River following dam removal? Check out “What Comes Next?” at Wild Steelheaders United.