The Restoration of Klamath River Basin in Oregon Receives $46 Million Investment
KLAMATH COUNTY, Ore. — An investment of $46 million into the Klamath River Basin will generate jobs and ensure that tribes, farmers, and communities will thrive in future years – this was the response of Oregon U.S. senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley to the funding by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Water Quality Will be Improved and the Ecosystem Strengthened
Restoration of the Klamath Basin will strengthen the ecosystem and improve water quality, according to a press release by the senators.
The recent removal of four hydroelectric dams from the Klamath River has reopened the river’s natural spawning grounds to salmon, and other indigenous fish species long absent from the area.
A Total Investment of $162 Million
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has earmarked $123 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds to restore the ecosystem of the Klamath Basin.
A total of $162 million has been spread across five years, which includes the completion of the Klamath Falls National Fish Hatchery, and addresses water-related challenges in Oregon and northern California waterways.
The last $10 million of a $30 million investment will go towards completing the National Fish Hatchery to increase salmon spawning ground capacity and to prevent the extinction of two species found only in the Klamath Basin – shortnose and Lost River suckers, known as Koptu and C’waam.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services estimates completion of the hatchery by 2027 when it will have sufficient capacity to rear 60,000 suckers yearly.
Not only will the hatchery enhance rearing suckers in captivity but will fulfill its role as deeply significant to the Tribes of the Klamath Basin.