Chinook Salmon Return to Upper Klamath Lake Tributary

Mar 23, 2026 https://www.nwsportsmanmag.com

A just-hatched Chinook salmon has been spotted in an Upper Klamath Lake tributary, marking the first time a young salmon has been observed there in over 100 years. This milestone follows last year's return of adult Chinook to the area, which was made possible by the removal of four dams on the Klamath River. The discovery was made using rotary screw traps, a nonlethal way to capture and sample fish populations, and represents a major step towards re-establishing self-sustaining populations in the Upper Klamath Basin.