The Klamath, a great salmon river of Oregon and California, is well known for controversy: water wars, fish-kills and a plan to remove four hydropower dams. Meanwhile on the lower Klamath, Western Rivers has worked quietly with the Yurok Tribe to create a major salmon sanctuary and help brace the Klamath for the changes and challenges that lie ahead. We are excited to announce that in September, Western Rivers Conservancy and the Tribe closed the first installment of a 47,000-acre purchase from Green Diamond Resource Company on California’s North Coast.

There is still much work to do in this initiative to restore to the Yurok – California’s largest Tribe – a portion of its historic homeland along the lower Klamath River. The first 22,000 acres acquired, including the 5,500 acres just acquired in September, will be managed by the Tribe for watershed protection, fish and wildlife habitat, cultural resources and sustainable forestry. The remaining 25,000 acres, including the lower watershed of Blue Creek, will be managed as a Yurok Tribal Park for salmon, wildlife, cultural site protection and ecotourism. Blue Creek will be protected as a coldwater haven where fish can survive when Klamath River water temperatures go up and flows go down.

The next installments of this purchase are expected to close within the coming year. Bit by bit, the Yurok Tribe’s role as steward of the lower Klamath River will grow, complementing efforts to remove dams in the upper basin.

Photo: Lower Klamath River, © Cindy M. Diaz