Animals

Klamath Fisheries Program

The Klamath River flows through the western portion of the Klamath National Forest. The Klamath River and its tributaries that drain the Klamath Mountains are home to Chinook and coho salmon, steelhead trout, green sturgeon, as well as many other species of fish, frogs, salamanders, and mollusks. The Klamath National Forest encompasses some of the country’s most pristine watersheds and wildest streams. Many of the tributary watersheds on the Klamath National Forest are designated as “Key” watersheds because they are in good to excellent condition, provide high quality water, and are critical for the protection and recovery of salmon and steelhead trout populations.

The Klamath National Forest and our partners monitor the status of fish populations and fish habitat conditions, and implement projects to protect and restore fish populations. Examples of these restoration projects include: fish passage barrier removal, improving watershed function by storm proofing and decommissioning roads, and improving watershed condition by reducing excessive fuels and wildfire hazard.

Spring Chinook/Summer Steelhead Snorkel Surveys

The Forest conducts an annual snorkel census of salmon and steelhead trout populations in Klamath River tributaries. Fish census numbers are compiled and analyzed through the years to detect trends in fish abundance and to provide information necessary to make sound fisheries and watershed management decisions.

Salmon River – Spring Chinook/Summer Steelhead Snorkel Results

 2013 | 2014  | 2015 | 2016  | 2017

Spring and Fall Chinook Spawning Surveys

The Forest cooperates with federal and state agencies, local organizations, and volunteers to conduct the annual Fall Chinook Salmon spawning census on rivers and streams throughout the Klamath National Forest. Data collected is not only used for project and resource management decisions on the Forest, but also contributes towards State management of Klamath River Fall Chinook fish stocks.

Chinook Spawning Survey Reports

• Scott River Subbasin – Chinook Salmon Spawning Survey (1992)
• Klamath National Forest - Fall Chinook Spawning Report (2005)

Spring Chinook Spawning Reports

• Salmon-Scott Rivers Ranger District – Spring Chinook Spawning Report (2015)
• Salmon-Scott Rivers Ranger District – Spring Chinook Spawning Report (2016)

Fall Chinook Spawning Reports

• Salmon-Scott Rivers Ranger District - Fall Chinook Spawning Report (2013)
• Salmon-Scott Rivers Ranger District - Fall Chinook Spawning Report (2014)
• Salmon-Scott Rivers Ranger District – Fall Chinook Spawning Report (2015)
• Salmon-Scott Rivers Ranger District – Fall Chinook Spawning Report (2016)
• Salmon-Scott Rivers Ranger District – Fall Chinook Spawning Report (2017)

Stream Habitat Assessment

The Klamath National Forest conducts stream surveys to assess fish habitat condition and fish populations in Klamath River tributary streams. Examples of stream attributes assessed during stream surveys include number and size of pools, amount and quality of spawning gravels, amount of woody debris in the stream channel, species composition of streamside vegetation, and fish species distribution.

Cooperative Activities

The Klamath National Forest fisheries program participates in many other cooperative activities with Federal, State, and Tribal agencies, as well as local watershed councils and other entities.

Cooperative Report of the Scott River Coho Salmon Rescue and Relocation Effort: 2014 Drought Emergency