This week, river watchers and tribal elders are quietly celebrating what was once thought improbable: Chinook salmon are making their way upstream in the Klamath River Basin for the first time in over a century. After four dams were removed, the fish have reached tributaries in the upper Klamath Basin, marking a major ecological milestone.
The Return of Salmon
In late September, biologists observed a Chinook ascending a fish ladder at Keno Dam in Oregon’s section of the Klamath system. A few weeks later, presence of the fish was confirmed even further upstream in tributaries such as the Sprague River and Williamson River, inside the Upper Klamath Basin.
According to tribal chair William E. Ray Jr. of the Klamath Tribes, at least 200 salmon are thought to be upstream at this time.
Why It Matters
For more than 100 years, these fish were blocked from their ancestral spawning grounds by dams, poor water quality, and degraded habitat. The return of the salmon signals several things: a physical reconnection of river habitat, a cultural restoration for native tribes who have long held the fish sacred, and momentum for further ecological recovery efforts.
“It’s a blessing of cultural renewal, cultural healing, and just truly a blessing from Creator,” Ray said.
What Actually Changed
The four dams along the Klamath, located on the California and Oregon border, were removed in a record restoration project that’s considered the largest dam removal effort in U.S. history. By clearing those barriers, migrating Chinook can now travel nearly 300 miles from the Pacific Ocean to Upper Klamath Lake and beyond.
Not Done Yet
Despite this breakthrough, the story remains incomplete. Two dams upstream, Link River and Keno, are still in place, and water quality issues in parts of the basin continue to threaten the recovery of salmon and other native species. Key fish such as the c’waam and koptu, which are endemic to the basin, still face near-extinction.
Even with most of the dams now removed, politics could slow the recovery. Under the current administration, restoration funding and long-term management plans for the Klamath Basin remain uncertain. Federal agencies have scaled back support, and tribes worry that environmental priorities are once again being replaced with short-term political interests.
After generations of waiting, the fear isn’t that the fish won’t come back, but that the government won’t stay the course long enough to see them thrive.
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