Around 830,000 salmon fry released into the Klamath River in Northern California have tragically died due to gas bubble disease, which is caused by a severe change in pressure as the fish pass through the Iron Gate Dam tunnel. This incident occurred during the first release from the Fall Creek Fish Hatchery, a project aimed at supporting salmon populations in the Klamath River once it is fully undammed. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) reported a high mortality rate among the fry, marking a devastating setback in efforts to restore the river’s ecosystem.
Despite the loss of the salmon fry, there are other healthy yearling coho and Chinook salmon downstream from the dam, indicating no water quality issues in the river. The removal of the Iron Gate Dam and tunnel later this year is a significant step towards restoring the Klamath River, which was once a prolific salmon-producing river on the West Coast before the decline caused by dams. The CDFW emphasized the negative impact of the dams on salmon runs for generations and highlighted the importance of ongoing restoration efforts to ensure the future health of the river ecosystem.
