The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has seen the first returns of threatened Coho Salmon in the upper Klamath River Basin in more than 60 years, following the historic four dam removal completed last month. It was the 1960s when CDFW documented the last Coho occupying the historic habitat in the upper watershed.
Last month, seven coho salmon entered Fall Creek Fish Hatchery in Siskiyou County, about 7.5 miles upstream from the former Iron Gate Dam.
The returning Coho have been identified by missing adipose fins, confirming Fish Hatchery origin.
Coho Salmon in the Klamath are listed as a threatened species under both State and Federal endangered species acts.
In a separate announcement, CDFW announced it has released 270,000 full-run Chinook salmon into Fall Creek, the first early yearly Hatchery Salmon release following the historic dams removal.