First salmon since 1912 spotted in Oregon’s Klamath Basin, months after dam removal

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. (KTVZ) – A fall-run Chinook salmon was identified Wednesday by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife's fish biologists in a tributary to the Klamath River above the former J.C. Boyle Dam, becoming the first anadromous fish to return to the Klamath Basin in Oregon since 1912, when the first of four hydroelectric dams was constructed, blocking migration.

The salmon and others likely traveled about 230 miles from the Pacific Ocean to reach the tributary, only months after four Klamath River dams were removed to ensure fish passage from California to Oregon.

“This is an exciting and historic development in the Klamath Basin that demonstrates the resiliency of salmon and steelhead,” said ODFW Director Debbie Colbert. “It also inspires us to continue restoration work in the upper basin. I want to thank everyone that has contributed to this effort over the last two decades.”

“The return of our relatives the c’iyaal’s is overwhelming for our tribe. This is what our members worked for and believed in for so many decades,” said Roberta Frost, Klamath Tribes secretary. “I want to honor that work and thank them for their persistence in the face of what felt like an unmovable obstacle. The salmon are just like our tribal people, and they know where home is and returned as soon as they were able.”

"c’iyaal’s are culture carriers,” said Natalie Ball, Klamath Tribes Council Woman. “I'm excited for their return home and for us to be in relation with them again.”

Fish biologists have been surveying the Klamath River and tributaries since dam removal as part of the agency’s responsibility to monitor the repopulation of anadromous fish species to the basin, in collaboration with The Klamath Tribes.

Mark Hereford, ODFW’s Klamath Fisheries Reintroduction Project Leader, was part of the survey team that identified the fall-run Chinook. His team was ecstatic when they saw the first salmon.

“We saw a large fish the day before rise to surface in the Klamath River, but we only saw a dorsal fin,” said Hereford. “I thought, 'Was that a salmon, or maybe it was a very large rainbow trout?”

Once the team returned on Oct. 16 and 17, they were able to confirm that salmon were in the tributary.

ODFW, The Klamath Tribes and other partners have been working together on this historic restoration project to monitor Chinook salmon, coho salmon, steelhead and Pacific lamprey, once they are able to repopulate habitat above the dams.