How many Chinook salmon passed through the former Iron Gate Dam site in the first 3 months after dam removal?

According to the article, 7,700 fish, primarily Chinook salmon, passed through the former Iron Gate Dam site between October and December 2024, averaging 588 fish per day.

What impact did the dam removal have on water quality in the Klamath River?

The article states that without the dams, 100% of water samples taken at the Klamath River below the former Iron Gate dam site were below the public health limit for toxic microcystin algae, compared to 58% exceeding the limit in previous years.

How have the Yurok Tribe's traditional fishing practices been affected by the dam removal on the Klamath River?

The article mentions that the improved water quality has made fishing easier for tribal members, as they no longer have to contend with suspended algae clogging their traditional gillnets.

Home / Environment / Klamath River Rebounds with Salmon Surge, Algae Decline After Dam Removal

Klamath River Rebounds with Salmon Surge, Algae Decline After Dam Removal

18 Oct

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Summary

Salmon numbers surge, reaching 7,700 fish in 3 months after dam removal
Water quality improves, with 100% of samples below public health limits for toxic algae
Tribes celebrate river's revival, with fish returning to historic spawning grounds

Klamath River Rebounds with Salmon Surge, Algae Decline After Dam Removal

As of October 18, 2025, the Klamath River in California is experiencing a remarkable ecological revival, just one year after the completion of the world's largest dam removal project. According to scientists, the river's health has begun to bounce back, with salmon swimming upstream in greater numbers than expected, and increased activity from bald eagles, bears, beavers, otters, and ospreys.

The data is staggering - in the three months following the removal of the final dam in October 2024, a remarkable 7,700 fish, primarily Chinook salmon, passed through the former dam site, averaging 588 fish per day. Researchers have also observed the first Chinook salmon ascending the Keno Dam fish ladder and leaving the fishway at the top of Link River Dam, entering Klamath Lake.