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Klamath River Fishes
The Klamath River and its tributaries support the highest diversity of anadromous fishes of any river in California with coho salmon, chum salmon, multiple runs of Chinook salmon, coastal cutthroat trout, multiple runs of steelhead, eulachon, green sturgeon, white sturgeon, Pacific lamprey, and river lamprey. Upstream,
the Oregon Klamath hosts the state's most robust population of redband trout, as well as bull trout, rainbow trout, and several species of suckers, to name a few. Scientists estimate the Klamath once supported up to one million anadromous salmon and steelhead, many of whom spawned well above Iron Gate dam.
All of these fish species were, or still are, used by the four recognized tribes of the Klamath River. The Karuk, Yurok, Hoopa, and Klamath Tribes are some of the largest tribes left in California and Oregon and are actively working on behalf of the Klamath River fisheries, along with commercial fishermen, and nonprofits like Klamath Riverkeeper, the Salmon River Restoration Council, the Mid-Klamath Watershed Council, and many others. Learn more about Klamath River fishes:
- Coho salmon
- Chinook salmon
- Bull trout
- Chum salmon
- Redband trout
- Steelhead
- Rainbow trout
- Coastal cutthroat trout
- Eulachon
- Green sturgeon
- White sturgeon
- Pacific lamprey
- River lamprey
- Lost River, shortnose, Klamath smallscale, and Jenny creek suckers
For more info on Klamath River fish species:
National Academy of Sciences, 2004. Threatened and Endangered Fishes of the Klamath Basin.


