In an astounding comeback, Chinook salmon have returned to their ancestral spawning grounds in the upper reaches of Oregon’s Klamath River, a place they haven’t seen for over a hundred years.
Just this month, wildlife officials in Oregon confirmed the incredible news: these remarkable fish successfully navigated a significant lake and reached the very tributary streams that form the river’s headwaters.
This monumental achievement comes barely a year after the final one of four major hydroelectric dams on the Klamath was taken down. For decades, these dams had acted as impenetrable barriers, preventing salmon and other fish from reaching their upstream homes. Their removal, completed between 2023 and 2024, was the result of tireless advocacy from Native American groups—including the Yurok, Karuk, and Klamath tribes—as well as environmental organizations, local anglers, and numerous other dedicated partners.
William E. Ray, Jr., chairman of the Klamath tribes, reflected on the moment, calling it “both a blessing and filled with remorse.” He acknowledged the many individuals who had “fought hard all those decades” for this restoration, many of whom are no longer with us to witness the triumph. Yet, he concluded, “it was also very joyous.”
Stretching approximately 260 miles, the Klamath River originates in south-central Oregon and flows all the way to the northern California coast, where it meets the Pacific Ocean near the town of Klamath. For millennia, this river was a vibrant lifeline, supporting thriving populations of salmon, trout, and other migratory fish. These species were not just food; they were, and still are, fundamental to the diets and rich cultures of the indigenous tribes residing along the riverbanks.
However, by the early 20th century, new settlers began to see the river primarily for its potential in irrigation and hydropower. Consequently, the four dams that were recently dismantled were constructed between 1912 and 1962. These, combined with numerous smaller dams, canals, and water diversions, severely obstructed fish migration and dramatically altered the river’s natural ecosystem. Chinook salmon, once the most plentiful fish in the Klamath, saw their numbers plummet, vanishing entirely from the river’s upper reaches above the dam sites.
“These fisheries provided half of our diet and were crucial for our medicines,” Mr. Ray emphasized. He lamented that the loss of salmon had “eroded the tribes’ viability, our ability to practice and safeguard our living culture.”
The final dam’s demolition wrapped up in October 2024. Remarkably, within mere days, salmon were observed swimming upstream, navigating past the former dam locations and making their way toward Upper Klamath Lake—their penultimate destination before reaching the smaller tributary streams where they instinctively spawn.
Despite this progress, some challenges persisted. A few older dams in the system were equipped with “fish ladders”—series of ascending pools and small waterfalls designed to help fish bypass obstructions. However, these structures were built many decades ago, not to contemporary standards, and were primarily intended for trout, not the more robust salmon.
Scientists worked quickly to install monitoring equipment, eager to track the salmon’s journey and determine if they could successfully navigate these older fish ladders. To their astonishment, as cameras were being set up in late September of this year, salmon were already moving through them.
Mark Hereford, a project lead for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s restoration initiative, exclaimed, “That was incredible!”
A camera vividly captured a Chinook salmon dramatically leaping up one of these antiquated fish ladders, offering the very first visual proof of the species’ advance upstream. Following this, scientists began outfitting some of the passing fish with radio tags to monitor their movements more precisely.
These tagged fish proved to be true pioneers. By mid-October, the tracking data confirmed that several dozen salmon had traveled approximately 30 miles, traversing Upper Klamath Lake and successfully reaching the Klamath’s tributary streams—the very headwaters of the river. Remarkably, just one year after the final dam’s removal, salmon are now repopulating the river’s highest reaches.
“We were absolutely ecstatic,” Mr. Hereford shared. “We had no idea how long this would take. To see them up here, barely a year and a few weeks after the last dam came down, is truly phenomenal.”
Scientists have since been navigating the tributary streams on paddleboards, diligently counting the returning salmon. Their conservative estimates indicate that at least 140 adult fish were actively spawning in these headwater tributaries by late October.
However, the journey to full recovery for the salmon will likely span many years. Water quality in the Upper Klamath remains a significant concern; agricultural runoff has contaminated the watershed with phosphorus, making certain areas unsuitable for drinking or swimming. Furthermore, an extensive network of irrigation canals poses a risk of diverting migrating fish away from essential spawning tributaries.
Securing adequate funding also presents a challenge. While the Klamath tribes and their partners have secured millions of dollars in federal grants for the restoration efforts, recent delays and unexpected cancellations in funding have cast uncertainty over future work and progress.
For example, the Klamath tribes are still awaiting over $3.1 million in promised funding from the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law, crucial for advancing their restoration projects.
“That funding has been held up since November 2024,” Mr. Ray stated. “And this isn’t just about the physical restoration work; it directly impacts our tribal members who depend on these jobs for their livelihoods and income.”
Despite these ongoing challenges, the tribes are rightfully celebrating this monumental conservation success after so many decades without salmon in the Klamath River. As Mr. Ray eloquently put it, “This is a renewal of our culture that we’ve cherished for thousands of years.”