Tuesday October 28, 2025
KTVZ 21 —
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. — The discovery of Chinook salmon swimming through irrigation canals in the Klamath Drainage District is prompting renewed concern about the lack of fish screens meant to protect both farmland and fish.
Last week, Klamath Drainage District (KDD) staff spotted large dark shapes moving beneath the surface of the Ady Canal. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife later confirmed the fish were Chinook salmon—now observed as far as the Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge.
The sightings mark a major moment in the salmon’s return to the Klamath Basin following recent dam removals, but they also highlight what KDD leaders call unfinished commitments. The district points to a 2016 agreement between federal and state agencies—the Klamath Power and Facilities Agreement—which promised funding for fish screens to prevent salmon from entering irrigation systems. Nearly a decade later, none have been installed.
KDD General Manager Scott White said farmers have long warned about this need. “It’s great to see salmon back, but we also have to protect landowners and the fish. These screens should have been in place years ago,” he said.
To address the issue, KDD is partnering with the Family Water Alliance, the Bureau of Reclamation, and ODFW on a $4.5 million project to install five fish screens along the Ady Canal. The district says the upgrades will keep salmon out of irrigation turnouts, preventing potential losses for growers and harm to fish.
Board member and local farmer Scotty Fenters said the goal is balance. “We want to see restoration succeed,” he said. “But that means making sure the infrastructure supports both fish and farms.”
The district manages about 27,000 acres of farmland in southern Klamath County, primarily grain crops. Leaders say the screen project also fits into KDD’s larger effort, called “Replumbing the Klamath,” to reconnect waterways, restore wetlands, and improve water security for local producers while enhancing wildlife habitat in the region.