Graduation Date
Summer 2025
Document Type
Thesis
Program
Master of Science degree with a major in Natural Resources, option Fisheries
Committee Chair Name
Darren Ward
Committee Chair Affiliation
Cal Poly Humboldt Faculty or Staff
Second Committee Member Name
Daniel Barton
Second Committee Member Affiliation
Cal Poly Humboldt Faculty or Staff
Third Committee Member Name
Alison O'Dowd
Third Committee Member Affiliation
Cal Poly Humboldt Faculty or Staff
Keywords
Survival, Radio telemetry, Movement, Dams, Salmon, Klamath River
Subject Categories
Fisheries
Abstract
The removal of four impassable hydroelectric dams on the Klamath River provides salmonids with the opportunity to recolonize their historic range in the upper Klamath River watershed. However, successful reestablishment of salmon populations requires juvenile salmon born in Oregon's upper tributaries to safely migrate downstream through the river's upper reaches. This stretch of the Klamath River, immediately downstream of Upper Klamath Lake, presents multiple migration challenges, including two flow-control dams not scheduled for removal (Link River Dam and Keno Dam), significant water diversions, and water quality issues. To evaluate these challenges, I conducted experimental releases of radio-tagged juvenile Chinook salmon over two years pre-dam removal (2022-2023). I monitored migration survival from the outlet of Upper Klamath Lake at Link River Dam downstream through Keno Dam to JC Boyle Reservoir. In both years, tagged juvenile Chinook successfully navigated downstream past both dams. Survival rates were lowest immediately downstream of Link River Dam. Although environmental factors, such as water flow and temperature, did not significantly influence survival rates, larger fish had higher survival. Additionally, water flow, temperature, and fish size significantly affected movement rate. Given that many fish survived migration through my entire study reach, these results highlight the opportunity to reestablish Chinook salmon in the Upper Klamath basin.
Recommended Citation
Whelan, James M., "Just keep swimming: outmigration survival of Upper Klamath Basin juvenile Chinook salmon" (2025). Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects. 2321.
https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/etd/2321