CDFW News

Chinook Fishing to Reopen on Klamath, Trinity and Sacramento Rivers After 3-Year Closure

Tue, 12 May 2026 16:02:59 GMT

Following three consecutive years of closure, salmon fishing will return to the Klamath River Basin and Sacramento River for the upcoming summer and fall seasons. More good news comes for inland anglers with a full season on the Feather, American and Mokelumne rivers after a shortened season in 2025. These added fishing opportunities come as a result of an increase in numbers of adult Chinook salmon returning from the ocean to the Klamath Basin and Central Valley.

The California Fish and Game Commission at its May 6 meeting adopted amendments to sport fishing regulations specifying season dates, bag and possession limits for the Klamath River Basin and Central Valley, and a quota for the Klamath and Trinity rivers. The adopted regulations aim to protect salmon as populations are expected to continue to rebound as a result of actions guided by California's Salmon Strategy for a Hotter Drier Future (PDF).

“The California Department of Fish and Wildlife is incredibly encouraged to see our public and private collaborative efforts pay off, allowing us to expand opportunities for California’s dedicated angling community while maintaining a steadfast commitment to long-term population recovery,” said CDFW Director Meghan Hertel. “It is a moment of genuine celebration for everyone invested in the health of our watersheds. CDFW looks forward to seeing anglers return to the Klamath Basin and Central Valley for fishing and fun on the river.”

Increases in hatchery production, investments in salmon research and habitat restoration projects, a series of good water years, dam removals and inland and ocean fishery closures have all aligned to bring Chinook and with that, Chinook fishing, back to the Klamath River Basin and Central Valley.

For the Klamath Basin, fishing will open for late spring-run Chinook salmon July 1 and will continue until Aug. 14 on the Klamath River and Aug. 31 on the Trinity River. Fall-run Chinook salmon fishing will begin on Aug. 15 on the Klamath River and Sept. 1 on the Trinity River and continue until Dec. 31. The fall-run adult quota is 3,248 fish, though fishing for jacks will continue after the adult quota is met. For the late spring-run salmon fishery, the daily bag limit is one fish of any size and the possession limit is two fish. For the fall-run salmon fishery, the daily bag limit is two fish, only one of which can be an adult greater than 23 inches; the possession limit is six fish, of which only three may be adults greater than 23 inches.

For the Central Valley, the general fall-run salmon fishing season will open on July 16 and close on Dec. 16, with some variation for upper and lower stretches of the rivers. For each tributary a daily bag limit of two fish and a possession limit of four fish of any size has been set.

All regulations, season dates and boundaries will be printed in the Freshwater Sport Fishing Regulations (PDF) when available.

The Pacific Fishery Management Council finalized its recommendations for California’s recreational and commercial ocean salmon seasons and harvest limits at its April 7-12 meeting. For more information about the 2026 ocean salmon fishing season, see the press release.

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Media Contacts:
Krysten Kellum, CDFW Communications, (916) 825-7120
Sheena Holley, CDFW Fisheries Branch

‘Salmon Everywhere’ One Year After Klamath Dam Removal

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 11:55:30 GMT

A little more than a year after the historic removal of four hydroelectric dams on the Klamath River, California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) scientists are seeing salmon reoccupying just about every corner of their historic habitat.

“The speed at which salmon are repopulating every nook and cranny of suitable habitat upstream of the dams in the Klamath Basin is both remarkable and thrilling,” said Michael Harris, Environmental Program Manager of CDFW’s Klamath Watershed Program. “There are salmon everywhere on the landscape right now, and it’s invigorating our work.”

While adult returns of salmon are ongoing and final estimates won’t be available until January, initial reports indicate a stronger fall-run Chinook salmon return than last year with widespread dispersal of the fish. Recent signs of salmon recovery throughout the Klamath Basin include:

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and Klamath Tribes report seeing widespread salmon spawning within the Oregon portion of the Klamath River, including within multiple tributaries upstream of Klamath Lake where salmon haven’t been seen in more than century.

Fish-counting stations on newly accessible tributaries within the former reservoir footprints in California have recorded 208 adult Chinook salmon in Jenny Creek and 260 adult Chinook salmon in Shovel Creek to date. While multiple state and federal agencies, Tribes and non-governmental organizations are monitoring salmon throughout the Klamath Basin, CDFW is particularly focused on monitoring these newly accessible tributaries. CDFW field crews are surveying regularly for salmon nests and adult fish.

CDFW snorkel crews this summer documented juvenile salmon and/or steelhead occupying nearly all of the newly accessible tributaries in the reservoir footprints. In Fall Creek, one of the newly accessible tributaries upstream of the former Iron Gate Dam location, approximately 65,000 wild juvenile Chinook salmon were counted.

CDFW’s Fall Creek Fish Hatchery, a $35 million state-of-the-art facility in its second year of operation, began spawning returning fall-run Chinook salmon in mid-October. To date, the hatchery has spawned 416 female fish and collected roughly 1.27 million eggs – four times the number of salmon spawned this time last year. More than 1,200 Chinook salmon have entered the hatchery so far.

Temperature monitoring in 2024 and 2025 along the mainstem Klamath River following the removal of the four dams reveals the return of natural, seasonal fluctuations of water temperatures benefiting salmon. Post-dam removal water temperatures are cooling sooner in the fall when adult fall-run Chinook salmon are returning and need that cool water most followed by warming temperatures in the spring when juvenile salmon are rearing and out-migrating to the ocean.

Scientists are seeing a lower prevalence of Ceratonova shasta – or C. shasta – a parasite that plagued juvenile salmon prior to dam removal. Harmful algal blooms in the Klamath River are smaller now and less frequent since dam removal.

A primary goal of Klamath River dam removal was the reestablishment of viable, wild, self-sustaining populations of salmon and other anadromous fish species for conservation, for their ecological benefits, and to enhance Tribal, commercial and recreational fisheries.

To that end, CDFW has invested more than $30 million to support fish habitat restoration projects within the Klamath Basin. These investments include:

$20 million in grants awarded to 10 projects within the Scott and Shasta rivers and watersheds, crucial salmon strongholds within the Klamath Basin. These projects, which include improved fish passage and post-McKinney Fire restoration, were developed in collaboration with and in support of local Tribes, ranchers, farmers and nonprofit fish conservation organizations.

A $130,000 grant to Trout Unlimited to remove a manmade concrete barrier on Jenny Creek to reopen approximately one mile of additional salmon and steelhead spawning and rearing habitat.

A $1.4 million grant to Trout Unlimited to install buffer fencing around the Iron Gate and Copco I reservoir footprints. The fencing will protect approximately 3,235 acres of riparian habitat within the reservoir footprints, support restoration plantings and reduce erosion that negatively impacts water quality and salmon and steelhead populations.

A $582,915 grant to the Klamath River Renewal Corporation (KRRC) to develop new public access and a recreational boating launch facility in the Copco Valley, site of the former Copco Lake reservoir, to provide new public access to the restored Klamath River for boating, fishing and other recreation.

The historic Klamath River dam removal project was a key milestone of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Salmon Strategy for a Hotter, Drier Future, introduced in 2024 to chart important priorities and actions needed to support California’s struggling salmon populations.

Photo: CDFW scientists survey a Klamath River tributary looking for salmon carcasses and salmon nests.

Media Contacts:
Michael Harris, CDFW Northern Region, (530) 410-5334  
Peter Tira, CDFW Communications, (916) 215-3858

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Public Invited to Celebrate Salmon, Community at CDFW’s Big Springs Ranch Wildlife Area in Siskiyou County

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 15:54:46 GMT

Canceled Due to Weather: After much deliberation and with disappointment, CDFW and CalTrout have decided to cancel the Oct. 25 event. The quantity of rain predicted in combination with a high wind advisory led to this decision.

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** Joint news release issued by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and California Trout **

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and California Trout (CalTrout), joined by several community and conservation partners, invite the public to join in celebrating the fall return of Chinook salmon to the Shasta River in the Klamath Basin.

CDFW’s Big Springs Ranch Wildlife Area in Siskiyou County will host the free community event Saturday, October 25 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

“We’re excited to highlight the return of Chinook salmon to the Klamath Basin as well as the strong conservation and community partnerships that will help safeguard this iconic species into the future,” said Michael Harris, Environmental Program Manager of CDFW’s Klamath Watershed Program.

“This event is about connecting people to the river and the incredible wildlife that depend on it,” said Ada Fowler, Senior Project Manager at CalTrout. “By bringing the community together to experience salmon spawning firsthand, we’re celebrating both the resilience of these fish and the importance of protecting and restoring our shared natural heritage.”

Partnering with CDFW and CalTrout on the day’s family-friendly and educational activities are the Quartz Valley Indian Reservation, the Siskiyou Science Festival, the Scott River Watershed Council, The Nature Conservancy, Mount Shasta Bioregional Ecology Center and the Salmon and Steelhead Coalition (Trout Unlimited, The Nature Conservancy, and CalTrout).

Attendees can look forward to:

Guided Chinook salmon viewing along the Shasta River during their spawning season
Educational presentations on the geology of the Shasta Valley and its importance to salmon
Family-friendly activities such as nature journaling hosted by community partners
Opportunities to learn about the ecological significance of salmon in the Klamath Basin

Families, neighbors and community members of all ages are encouraged to attend. For questions about the event, including requests for reasonable accommodation, please reach out to CDFW staff.

Event Details:

When: Saturday, October 25 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: Big Springs Ranch Wildlife Area, 4415 E Louie Rd, Montague, CA 96064
Admission: Free

For more information and directions, visit caltrout.org/events/big-springs-community-day-2025.

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Media Contacts:
Mike Harris, CDFW Northern Region, (530) 410-5334
Peter Tira, CDFW Communications, (916) 215-3858
Kara Glenwright, CalTrout Communications

Limited Chinook Sport Fishing to Reopen in 3 Central Valley Rivers

Tue, 20 May 2025 11:51:38 GMT

Klamath River Basin and Mainstem Sacramento River to Remain Closed to Chinook Fishing

While low Chinook salmon counts have called for the continued closure of Chinook salmon fishing in the Klamath River Basin and mainstem Sacramento River, Chinook fishing opportunities will be allowed in three inland Central Valley rivers for the first time in two years.

At its May 14 meeting in Sacramento, the California Fish and Game Commission (Commission) unanimously adopted sport fishing regulations for the 2025 season, opening limited Chinook salmon fishing on sections of the Mokelumne, Feather and American rivers, within adjusted seasons and a daily bag limit of one fish. The Sacramento River and Klamath River Basin and its tributaries will remain closed to protect those stocks.

“I’m happy to see some Chinook salmon fishing opportunity brought back in Central Valley rivers,” said Jay Rowan, Fisheries Branch Chief. “Increased hatchery production and a few good water years have led to a rebound in some of the key Central Valley salmon tributaries, which is encouraging to see.”

The regulations are expected to take effect on July 1, 2025, for the Klamath River Basin and July 15, 2025, for the sections of the Mokelumne, Feather and American rivers.

More information about 2025 sport fishing regulations for Chinook salmon can be found in the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s presentation to the Commission. (PDF)

Salmon stocks in California continue to be impacted by ongoing issues associated with multi-year droughts and climate disruption, including poor in-river spawning and migration conditions, ocean forage shifts, thiamine deficiency and other factors that have reduced adult abundance. The closures on the Klamath Basin and mainstem Sacramento River aim to help salmon populations rebound from these challenges.

The Commission also adopted a second 90-day extension of emergency regulations for the recreational take of white sturgeon in inland and ocean waters. The fishery is restricted to catch and release while undergoing review as part of its California Endangered Species Act candidacy.

Commission President Erika Zavaleta, Vice President Samantha Murray and commissioners Eric Sklar and Darius Anderson participated virtually in the teleconference meeting; Commissioner Jacque Hostler-Carmesin was absent.

The agenda for this meeting, along with supporting information, is available on the Commission website. Archived video of past Commission meetings is available online. The Commission’s June meeting will be held at the East End Complex Auditorium, 1500 Capitol Ave., Sacramento. Participants are expected to have options to participate via Zoom or by phone; for the agenda and more information visit the Commission website.

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Media Contacts:
Krysten Kellum, CDFW Communications, (916) 825-7120
Katie Talbot, CDFW Communications, (916) 204-1381

Threatened Coho Salmon Return to Upper Klamath River Basin for First Time in More Than 60 Years

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 12:45:15 GMT

CDFW releases 270,000 fall-run Chinook salmon into Fall Creek, the first yearling hatchery salmon release following historic dam removal

Media Note: Download photos, video and interviews involving CDFW’s salmon work in the Klamath Basin.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has seen the first returns of threatened coho salmon to the upper Klamath River Basin in more than 60 years following historic dam removal completed last month. Not since the construction of the former Iron Gate Dam in the early 1960s has CDFW documented coho salmon occupying their historic habitat in the upper watershed.

On November 13, seven coho salmon entered CDFW’s new Fall Creek Fish Hatchery in Siskiyou County, which is located on Fall Creek, a formerly inaccessible Klamath River tributary about 7.5 miles upstream of the former Iron Gate Dam location.

“To see coho successfully returning this quickly to this new habitat post-dam removal is exciting,” said Eric Jones, a Senior Environmental Scientist who oversees CDFW’s north state hatchery operations. “We’ve already seen the Chinook make it back and now we’re seeing the coho make it back.”

Of the seven coho salmon that entered the Fall Creek Fish Hatchery last week, four were male and three were female. Two had missing adipose fins, identifying them as being of hatchery origin. The other five were natural origin fish as all hatchery raised coho salmon in the Klamath Basin have their adipose fins removed for identification prior to release.

The returning coho are being kept at the Fall Creek Hatchery pending genetic testing at the NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center laboratory in Santa Cruz. Geneticists will determine which of the seven coho are the least related genetically and direct the spawning of those pairs to maximize genetic diversity.

Coho salmon in the Klamath Basin are listed as a threatened species under both state and federal endangered species acts. Coho salmon typically return to freshwater to spawn in the late fall and winter, later than the more numerous fall-run Chinook salmon.

CDFW’s Fall Creek Fish Hatchery has an annual production goal of raising 75,000 coho salmon to help restore populations in the upper Klamath River Basin post-dam removal.

Also pertaining to CDFW’s salmon work in the Klamath Basin:

** CDFW last week released approximately 270,000 yearling, fall-run Chinook salmon into Fall Creek, the last Klamath Basin hatchery release of the year and the first release following dam removal. The year-old juvenile salmon, approximately 4 to 6 inches in length, were released over four days, mostly at dusk to improve survival, and allowed to swim freely out of the hatchery into Fall Creek without handling.

“We’re releasing various life histories so that gives the fish a chance to out-migrate at different times of the year mimicking what we would see in the river naturally,” said Crystal Robinson, Senior Environmental Scientist and CDFW’s Klamath Watershed Program Supervisor.

Hatchery salmon released as yearlings in the fall show some of the highest rates of return as adults, which is attributed to their larger size at release and optimal fall river conditions with cool temperatures and strong flows.

** CDFW’s Fall Creek Fish Hatchery, a $35 million, state-of-the-art facility in its first year of operation, began spawning returning fall-run Chinook salmon in late October. To date, the hatchery has spawned 100 fish and collected 277,393 eggs. The hatchery has an ambitious annual production goal of 3.25 million fall-run Chinook salmon.

** Multiple state and federal agencies, Tribes and non-governmental organizations are monitoring salmon throughout the Klamath Basin, including the 420 miles of newly accessible habitat following dam removal. CDFW is particularly focused on newly accessible tributaries within the former reservoir footprints, including Jenny and Shovel creeks. To date, a video fish counting weir installed on Jenny Creek has recorded 310 adult Chinook salmon and one Pacific lamprey entering the tributary from the Klamath River. CDFW field crews are surveying regularly for salmon nests, or redds, and post-spawned adults.

The salmon work taking place in the Klamath Basin reflects all six priorities of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s California Salmon Strategy for a Hotter, Drier Future released in January 2024. Those priorities are removing barriers and modernizing infrastructure for salmon migration; restoring and expanding habitat for spawning and rearing; protecting water flows and water quality at the right times to benefit salmon; modernizing salmon hatcheries; transforming technology and management systems for climate adaptability; and strengthening partnerships.

CDFW’s post-dam removal management strategy, as detailed in the recently released Klamath River Anadromous Fishery Reintroduction and Monitoring Plan, is to mostly allow these ocean-going fish species to naturally repopulate the 420 miles of newly accessible habitat as they are now doing.

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Media Contacts: 
Morgan Knechtle, CDFW Northern Region, (530) 598-1743
Peter Tira, CDFW Communications, (916) 215-3858