This work is seasonal and is not expected nor intended to remain after annual winter flooding, but it is cost-effective and provides immediate results to the fishery. Fish passage problems in the Klamath River watershed include human-influenced barriers, natural barriers, or a combination of both. Most human-caused barriers are the result of road crossings, but swimmer’s dams at popular recreation areas also pose an obstacle to fish passage. Natural barriers include aggraded stream mouths where streams will either run sub-surface or become too shallow for fish to navigate because of large alluvial deltas. This problem has been exacerbated by past upslope disturbances such as wildfires, road failures, and mining, which have increased the sediment load particularly at the mouths of these tributaries.

Chronic low flow conditions increase the impact of seasonal barriers, particularly at aggraded stream mouths. Recent research in the Klamath Basin indicates that both summer and winter refugia associated with the lower reaches of tributaries are critical for the survival of juvenile salmonids. Fisheries surveys have identified consistently high numbers of juvenile salmonids in habitats that function both as summer and winter refugia. The size, distribution, accessibility, and quality of these habitats throughout the year are a major limiting factor for juvenile salmonids in the Klamath River basin. Fish passage improvement at coldwater tributaries will improve the function and capacity of thermal refugia during drought conditions and connect habitats critical to the survival of juvenile and adult salmonids. Maintaining access, improving habitat quality, and increasing capacity of thermal refugia is critical during drought years when lack of access is the difference between life and death for both adult and juvenile salmonids. The objectives of this project are to maintain and improve access to existing salmonid habitat by removing or manipulating seasonal barriers that impede fish passage and to improve connectivity at coldwater refugia sites. This project is designed to ensure both juvenile and adult fish passage into high-quality thermal refugia and spawning habitat during critical periods of rearing and migration.

Human Interest/Community Benefit:
The community value for at-risk native fish will be enhanced through community volunteerism as well as the involvement of local students. Students from local schools will participate in passage improvement activities in coordination with habitat stewardship projects coordinated by SRRC’s Watershed Education program and MKWC’s youth programs. Since 2017 high school students from Scott Valley have participated in fish passage improvement work through their enrollment in the Youth Environmental Summer Studies (YESS) program, and collaboration with the YESS program is expected to continue. MKWC staff accompany the local outdoor school on an annual raft trip, training local youth in fish identification and ecology, and guiding them in fish passage improvement work at several creeks along the reach. MKWC typically employs up to six restoration interns (ages 16-21) who spend approximately 25% of their six-week internship working with experienced fisheries technicians on the fish passage improvement project. MKWC and SRRC staff also recruit local volunteers throughout the season to assist with the project. Involvement of the local community is intended to strengthen the lasting impact of this project, restoring the ecological process over the long term. Community participation will be recorded using SRRC’s events management database. Volunteer workdays associated with this project will be advertised on SRRC’s monthly calendar which is e-mailed out to a list of approximately 1000 interested individuals, community 12 members, students, and organizations. Due to the covid-19 pandemic, some volunteer events are uncertain at this point in time, but the outdoor nature of the work makes it likely that volunteer involvement will be possible. SRRC and MKWC will also provide education and assistance to landowners regarding the maintenance of habitat enhancement projects adjacent to private property and will install informational signs at popular swimming holes and river access points to highlight our projects and educate the public on fish passage and fish health issues in the Klamath and Salmon Rivers. Further information about SRRC and MKWC projects, including fish passage improvement is available to the public on the SRRC and MKWC websites.

Project Timeline:

Implementation will take place during the 2023 or 2024 summer field season, anticipated completion no later than September 2024.

Partners:

California Fish Habitat Partnership
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
US Forest Service
Mid Klamath Watershed Council (MKWC)