Monday December 22, 2025
California Trout —
Just one year after the removal of the Klamath River dams, new monitoring results show thousands of Chinook salmon pushing deep into newly reopened habitat—some reaching more than 360 river miles from the ocean into the Upper Klamath Basin for the first time in over a century. These early outcomes reinforce what Tribes, scientists, and river advocates have long known: when we remove barriers and restore habitat, salmon come home.
A coalition of 19+ partners, including CalTrout, the Karuk Tribe, Yurok Tribe, The Klamath Tribes, ODFW, CDFW, university researchers, and nonprofits, is powering one of the most comprehensive salmon monitoring programs in the West. Despite funding disruptions earlier this fall, the team has kept the monitoring program going. Consistent data is essential for informing management, guiding restoration priorities, and tracking the river’s recovery in real time.