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Fishes of the Klamath River
The Klamath River is a center of biological diversity for fish species. Many know that the Klamath-Siskiyou bioregion hosts the highest diversity of conifer species in the world. However many do not know that it is the most diverse river in the world for lamprey species, or that it hosts bull, redband and steelhead trout, three species of salmon, at least three species of suckers, and the last spawning population of green sturgeon on the West Coast.
All of these fish species were, or still are, used by the four recognized tribes of the Klamath River. The Karuk, Yurok, Hoopa and Klamath Tribes are some of the largest tribes left in the West Coast and are actively managing and fighting for the Klamath River fisheries. Read more about the tribes on our Environmental Justice page.
The Klamath Salmon Did you know that there are actually three species of salmon on the Klamath River, two of which are on the edge of extinction?
The Fall Run Chinook Salmon are the healthiest of these species and are the one that controls all fishing restrictions within the Klamath Management Zone, which runs over 700 miles from Morrow Bay in Southern California to Northern Oregon. The fall run Chinook are the ones that died in the infamous “fish kill” of 2001and comprise the most important fishery for commercial fishing and tribal subsistence. Dangerously low numbers of of fall Chinook are the reason for the 2006-7commercial fishing restrictions.
The Spring Run Chinook Salmon are the most endangered of all the Klamath Salmon, with some years runs numbering at only one hundred fish. This is the species that comes early and traditionally used the cool springs above the Klamath dams. Studies show that the spring Chinook used creeks all the way up into the Williamson River in the Upper Basin. Now due to the Klamath dams, the last of the wild Klamath River spring Chinook are in the Salmon River and the south fork Trinity Rivers. Though there may be genetic evidence to the contrary, Klamath River spring Chinook do not have subspecies status.
Klamath River Coho Salmon: The Klamath River coho is the only species of salmon on the river that is listed under the Endangered Species Act, and comes into the river later then the Chinook species. These salmon like floodplains for spawning and traditionally liked the Scott and Shasta Rivers, in the mid Basin.
The Klamath coho do not have a recovery plan, nor is any of the take (or killing) of these species permitted. Currently Klamath Riverkeeper is very involved in the Watershed Wide Take permits proposed by California on the Scott and Shasta Rivers. Removal of the Klamath Dams, making 
sure coho experience very little “take,” and creating fish passage and cool flows at the Dwinnell Reservoirs on the Shasta River are our top priorities for Klamath coho.
The Klamath River Sturgeon: The Klamath River is the last spawning ground for the ancient green sturgeon, which is becoming increasingly rare. Modern science knows very little about these massive creatures, which can get as large as 10 feet long, and like to hang out under fast moving water.
The Klamath River Lamprey species, including pacific lamprey, 
are a parasitic eel-like species. Lamprey are an important food source to the Karuk, Yurok and Hoopa Tribe, therefore much of the science on lamprey is coming from the tribes. The Klamath River is the most diverse place in the world for lamprey and has at least five separate species. Most of these species occur no where else but the Klamath River.
The Lost River and Shortnose Suckers or C’wam. The last of these species are mainly in Upper Klamath Lake and the upper reservoirs on the Lost River. They spawn in rivers such as the Williamson, where a dam is currently being removed to aid this species, and in lakes. The suckers are a major food source for the Klamath Tribe, who petitioned to put them on the endangered species list to assure their recovery for future generations. Many of the current water decisions on the Klamath are based on the listing of the Lost River and Shortnose suckers or C’wam.
Klamath River Bull Trout live in tributaries such as the Sycan and Sprague Rivers above Upper Klamath Lake. Like most species on the Klamath, they have recently been subject to serious Bush administration attacks on Endangered Species. Recently, Julie MacDonald, the former deputy assistant secretary overseeing the NOAA fisheries recovery program was exposed for tinkering with data on endangered species. According to a report on this incident referenced in the Sacramento Bee, “’In the case of the bull trout,’ the report said, ‘[she] forced a reduction in critical habitat miles in the Klamath River Basin from 296 to 42 miles.’" Instances of Klamath River bull trout being put in jeopardy due to politics have also occurred within the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality.