Klamath River Basin Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Feasibility Study

• Project Purpose: The Yurok Tribe, in partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – San Francisco District, will identify opportunities for ecosystem restoration within the Klamath River Basin of California, specifically within the Scott River, Shasta River, and Upper Mid-Klamath Sub-Basins.  

• Project Background: The Klamath River Basin historically supported the third most productive salmon run in the Pacific Coast, including Chinook salmon, Steelhead, and Coho salmon as well as other important species such as lamprey, eulachon, and green sturgeon.  The Klamath River is a nationally significant river and is the focus of multiple large-scale restoration efforts by state and federal agencies, tribes, and conservation groups, focusing on wetlands and floodplain restoration, water quality projects, fish habitat enhancement, reinstatement of fish passage and other efforts following the removal of four privately owned dams on the Mainstem Klamath River in 2024.  The removal of these dams now allows for the restoration of over 400 miles of newly opened anadromous fish habitat, the restoration of formerly inundated lands, and the elimination of annual toxic algae blooms which occur within the existing reservoirs.

TOTAL FUNDING

            TOTAL COST                                                                              $      3,000,000

            FEDERAL COST                                                                          $      2,158,000

            NON-FEDERAL COST                                                                $          842,000 

            TOTAL FEDERAL COST THROUGH FY 2022                          $       0

            FY 2023 BUDGET                                                                      $       0   

            COST TO COMPLETE                                                                $      1,658,000

FY 22 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Letter of intent received from sponsor to renew interest in the study in February 2022

FY23 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Project received an FY24 appropriation in the President’s Budget for $500,000

FY24 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Executed a Feasibility Cost-Share Agreement with the sponsor

FY25 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Develop a Project Management Plan
• Hold Alternatives Milestone Meeting
• Progress towards a Tentatively Selected Plan

CONGRESSIONAL INTEREST­

• 1^st District, CA, Rep. Doug LaMalfa
• 2nd District, OR, Rep. Cliff Bentz

POINT OF CONTACT

• Deputy for Project Management, (415) 503-6593.

Updated on 24 February 2025