Klamath River Basin 2014 Report to Congress

The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act of 2006 required NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to develop a recovery plan for Klamath River coho salmon in 2007 and submit annual reports to Congress beginning in 2009. This document is the fifth annual Klamath River Basin Report to Congress. The report updates information presented in the 2012 annual report with information for the calendar years 2012 and 2013 and includes: (1) the actions taken under the recovery plan and other laws relating to recovery of Klamath River coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch), and how those actions are specifically contributing to its recovery; (2) the progress made on the restoration of salmon spawning habitat, including water conditions as they relate to salmon health and recovery, with emphasis on the Klamath River and its tributaries below Iron Gate Dam; (3) the status of other Klamath River anadromous fish populations, particularly Chinook salmon; and (4) the actions taken by the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) to address the calendar year 2003 National Research Council (NRC) recommendations regarding monitoring and research on Klamath River Basin salmon stocks.
The Klamath River Basin supports Chinook salmon, coho salmon, and steelhead populations, among other anadromous species (e.g., North American green sturgeon (Acipenser medirostris), and eulachon (Thaleichthys pacificus)). Historically, anadromous fish populations supported important commercial, recreational, and tribal fisheries. However, many anadromous fish populations have declined substantially in abundance, and the restoration of these populations will require strong partnerships and collaboration between agencies and stakeholders throughout the basin. One of the target stocks of the ocean mixed-stock recreational and commercial salmon fisheries is the Klamath River fall Chinook salmon.