After a century of ecological collapse, steelhead and salmon in the Klamath River now have a fighting chance at a full recovery.

Federal agency cuts flows as the largest river restoration project begins

The Yurok Tribe, with the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations (PCFFA) and the Institute for Fisheries Resources (IFR), filed for a preliminary injunction to prohibit the U.S. Bureau of
Reclamation from delivering water for irrigation unless Reclamation can ensure it will be able to comply fully with its Endangered Species Act (“ESA”) obligations to threatened Southern Oregon/Northern California Coast (“SONCC”) Coho Salmon and endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales (“Killer Whales”) that depend on Klamath River Chinook Salmon as prey.

The Yurok Tribe, with the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations (PCFFA) and the Institute for Fisheries Resources (IFR), sued the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) to ensure enough water will remain in the Klamath River to protect threatened coho salmon and endangered resident killer whales.

For the Yurok, the fight to protect the Klamath River and the Tribe’s way of life goes back centuries.

Sudden water cutoffs by Bureau of Reclamation further jeopardize struggling salmon

Temporary restraining order filed to restore essential water flows for Klamath River salmon

Bureau of Reclamation develops new three-year operations plan

For the Yurok, the fight to protect the Klamath River and the Tribe’s way of life goes back centuries. The Yurok Tribe turned to the courts for restitution and joined forces with Earthjustice and commercial fishing families to protect the Klamath’s salmon.

This federal district court order, issued on April 30 by Judge Orrick in the Northern District of California, denies Klamath water users' motion to modify a 2017 court order issued to protect threatened Klamath River salmon from deadly disease outbreaks.

Court decides not to eliminate protections for salmon in its 2017 decision

To understand the importance of the latest court ruling, listen to those who depend on Klamath River salmon for their way of life.

Klamath Takings Decision

Amicus Brief

Court denies Klamath agribusiness interests $30 million years after 2001 drought

The U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit broadly upheld the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s ability to provide additional flow releases in California’s Trinity River to protect salmon.

The Klamath River has a basic problem: too much water promised to too many people. Now salmon are dying, causing local fishermen and tribal nations to suffer.

Poor water management on the Klamath River has caused a swift decline in salmon stocks, threatening the Yurok people’s livelihood.