After dam removal, the plan for recovering Klamath River salmon and steelhead is relatively straightforward.<\/p>\n
Oregon is going to focus on watching to see how steelhead repopulate the upper watershed and on having a more active role in developing spring-run Chinook salmon populations.\u00a0 Without an existing spring-run stock, Oregon will try establishing one by out-planting stock from California\u2019s Trinity River Hatchery.<\/p>\n
California will focus on recovery of existing lower river spring-run Chinook and fall-run Chinook, Coho, and steelhead stocks.\u00a0 The new Fall Creek Hatchery will sustain the fall-run Chinook, Coho, and steelhead stocks formerly produced at the now-closed Iron Gate Hatchery.\u00a0 Lower and middle river wild spring\u2013run and fall-run Chinook, Coho, and mainstem and tributary steelhead stocks should expand with improved water quality and access to new habitat.\u00a0 Historical tributaries offer great potential as does the spring-fed reach of the mainstem near the Oregon border.<\/p>\n
In the decades ahead, as the populations and habitat recover, state, federal, tribal, and stakeholder groups will work together toward Klamath salmon and steelhead recovery.<\/p>\n
There will be a need to coordinate management of the three H\u2019s:\u00a0 hatcheries, harvest, and habitat.\u00a0 Existing hatchery programs should be converted to a single conservation hatchery program focused on salmon and steelhead recovery.\u00a0 Such a program will need a new hatchery to support the recovery of Klamath spring-run Chinook, as in the San Joaquin River Restoration Program. \u00a0The Pacific Fishery Management Council and the two states will have to protect the recovering populations with strict harvest regulations.\u00a0 Considerable funding will be needed to restore fire-damaged and drought-damaged watersheds, former reservoir footprints, mainstem and tributary fish passage, and spawning and rearing habitat.<\/p>\n
Water supply management will remain contested and challenging.\u00a0 Adequate funding, cooperative efforts, and adaptive management will bring success.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
After dam removal, the plan for recovering Klamath River salmon and steelhead is relatively straightforward. Oregon is going to focus on watching to see how steelhead repopulate the upper watershed and on having a more active role in developing spring-run … Continue reading