Fish and wildlife Klamath River

the mouth of klamath river on pacific ocean, del norte county, california

the river considered prime habitat chinook salmon, coho salmon, , rainbow trout. once river third-largest producer of salmon on west coast, after columbia , sacramento rivers, salmon run has been reduced since construction of 6 dams between 1908 , 1962. coho salmon in klamath river listed threatened under endangered species act. in 1963, upper trinity river—the largest single tributary klamath—was virtually removed klamath drainage completion of lewiston , trinity dams, diverting 90 percent of upper trinity s flow sacramento valley. 1963 1991, 150 cubic feet per second (4.2 m/s) main stem above dams left flow klamath. in 1991, minimum annual trinity flow of 340,000 acre feet (420,000,000 m) established, or 470 cubic feet per second (13 m/s).

from 1920s 1960s, 4 hydroelectric dams built california-oregon power company (copco) , successor pacificorp on klamath river main stem, blocking salmon migration , trapping sediment formerly replenished downstream gravel bars used spawning salmon. possible removal of dams has been controversial issue in region in recent years. despite intense lobbying local native american tribes, conservationists, , fishermen, 2004 renewal application pacificorp 50-year federal operating license dams did not include provisions allowing salmon return more 300 miles (483 km) of former habitat above dams. in january 2007, however, federal government ruled pacificorp must equip 4 dams fish ladders, modification potentially cost more $300 million. pacificorp has offered $300 million upgrade jc boyle fish ladder , proposed trucking fish around copco number 1 , iron gate dams, after having had been denied license build power generator in utah. pacificorp president fehrman defended company s activities in area, pointing other benefits.

a separate controversy surrounds use of water in upper klamath basin irrigated agriculture, temporarily halted in 2001 protect endangered salmon , lake fish during severe drought. vice president dick cheney intervened ensure water agriculture industry rather environmental flow. in 2002, federal government, under interior secretary gale norton, provided full water deliveries irrigators drought continued; despite fact klamath area tribes have treaty rights predate settlement of farmers. norton argued free market approach allowing farmers sell water native americans downstream. year, klamath river system had largest fish die-off ever recorded. house natural resources committee investigated vice president cheney having released water ranchers possible political gain.

according biologists state of california , u.s. fish , wildlife service, atypical low flow in river along high fish return numbers , high water temperatures allowed gill rot disease kill @ least 33,000 salmon in september 2002, before reproduce. die-off downstream of trinity inflow, , salmon of trinity impacted greater degree klamath trinity run @ peak. report mention official fish die-off estimate of 34,056 quite low , half of actual loss. klamath river flows measured @ river gauge in keno show low flow of 800 cubic feet per second (22.7 m/s) in september 1908 (before irrigation began). during 2002 fish kill, flows of 475 cubic feet per second (13.5 m/s) recorded. during september of 2001 irrigation shut-off, average of 688 cubic feet per second (19.5 m/s) recorded.

in 2011, u.s. environmental protection agency (epa) approved plan first introduced in 1992 california s state government. plan called major cleanup of lower river in order protect salmon phosphorus, nitrogen, , carbonaceous biochemical oxygen demand. expressed concern on high water temperatures, algal blooms, , low oxygen levels, although fish have adapted of these issues. environmental groups, more 6 government agencies, native american tribes in basin, , others have worked epa reduce pollution levels in klamath.

salmon controversy , proposed dam removal


—pacific coast federation of fishermen s associations (2008)

historically, klamath river once third productive salmon river system in united states , after columbia , sacramento. eutrophication , raised water temperatures induced construction of dams have created worsening conditions migrating salmon, in years of drought. irrigation along upper klamath , shasta , scott rivers, along almost-total diversion of upper trinity river, have lowered total river flow supporting out-migrating young salmon in spring , in-migrating adult salmon in fall. in 1960s, project proposed divert entire klamath river central california , southern california, undertaking known klamath diversion, project defeated. have limited salmon last 12 miles (19 km) of entire river. in 2002, major fish kill took toll on river , tribes depend on it. more 34,000 salmonoids died alone, due low waters , poor hindsight, compassion, of in charge(pacificorp). in 2005, pacificorp applied federal government relicense 4 hydroelectric dams on klamath 50 years. environmentalists opposed relicensing, arguing dams should removed reopen upper klamath salmon.

cataraft on klamath river



flat water on klamath river

an agreement signed on february 18, 2010.

two years of closed-door negotiations among farmers, indian tribes, fishermen, conservation groups , government agencies had resulted in plan work toward detailed settlement of klamath water usage. called removal of 4 hydroelectric dams—the iron gate dam , copco dams 1 , 2 (in california), , john c. boyle dam (in oregon)—now operating along 300 miles (483 km) of klamath river, starting in year 2020, restoration projects. non-binding agreement in principle (aip) among 4 parties—pacificorp, federal government, california, , oregon—to remove 4 dams had been announced on november 13, 2008. pacificorp ratepayers fund part of plan , state of california fund of remaining projected cost. total cost around $800 million. agreement required federal government scientifically assess costs , benefits of dam removals, determine whether such action in public interest, , make final determination march 31, 2012, whether benefits of project justify costs, although deadline missed. local group, klamath county tea party patriots, formed oppose agreement, , succeeded in unseating local elected officials supportive of deal. on december 31, 2012, parties renewed agreement, providing more time federal, congressional, , california electorate approval finalize dam removal.

on april 4, 2013, u.s. department of interior released final environmental impact statement on plan, recommending removal of 4 dams , $1 billion in other environmental restoration aid native salmon runs on klamath. ron wyden, senior u.s. senator oregon, introduced klamath basin water recovery , economic restoration act of 2014, cosponsored fellow oregon senator jeff merkley , nevada senator dean heller.

water rights dispute

when 1864 treaty signed, klamath tribes, less land, became short on stream water needed fishing. although 1950s 1970s not federally recognized, tribes never lost water rights, , in 2001, when klamath basin farmers twice sued u.s. department of interior more access irrigation water, rights upheld. tribes water allotments fishing continue large factor in klamath basin water disputes in 21st century. in 2013, tribe s water rights enforced first time, in known water call . klamath tribe called upon in-stream water right, enforced water master. resulted in upper-basin irrigation being denied water, except groundwater irrigators. klamath project, however, not called upon.