A video camera captured a Chinook salmon ascending the fish ladder at Keno Dam on the upper Klamath River this week (Sept. 24), the first picture of a salmon ascending the upper bays of the ladder since four hydroelectric dams were removed on the Klamath River last year.

It's a positive step for salmon because the majority of spawning habitat in the Oregon portion of the upper Klamath basin is above Keno Dam, Link River Dam, and Upper Klamath Lake. While salmon were observed on the Keno Dam fish ladders last year, this is the first image of a salmon passing the dam, with the video showing a salmon leaping the last pool of the ladder to the exit of the dam.

The cameras had been installed by ODFW and the Bureau of Reclamation just one day prior (Sept. 23) as part of efforts to monitor Chinook salmon migrating above Keno and Link River dams.

"Salmon are again reminding us of their resiliency as they return to a portion of river basin that hasn't seen salmon for more than 100 years," said ODFW Watershed Manager Phil Milburn. "That salmon have so quickly shown us they can pass this key barrier renews our sense of optimism for this population and comes after years of work by Tribes, agencies, and other partners."

"Oregon has high standards for fish passage and it will take some work for Keno Dam to meet those standards and ensure enough salmon can get to historic habitat," Milburn continued. "We are already working with partners including the Bureau of Reclamation to improve fish passage."

The detection at Keno Dam closely follows the first confirmation of the year that fall-run Chinook salmon are again returning to Oregon's portion of the Klamath River. On Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025, a Chinook was detected on another ODFW video system on a tributary of the Klamath River a few miles downstream of Keno Dam.

While four hydroelectric dams were removed from the Klamath River last year, Keno Dam and Link River Dam remain in operation. Both provide water for irrigation purposes and Keno Dam is also necessary for flood control in the region. Both dams are currently managed by the Bureau of Reclamation.

Passage above Keno Dam is just one obstacle in their long migration to historic spawning grounds and salmon will face additional challenges. They also need to navigate Link River Dam (at the outlet of Upper Klamath Lake), swim through Upper Klamath Lake and find suitable spawning habitat and a mate in the hundreds of miles of streams that enter the lake. Upper Klamath Lake's nutrient rich shallow water, poor water quality during certain times of year and unscreened diversions throughout the Basin will be a challenge for salmon.

Many partners including state and federal agencies, non-profits, and Tribes are monitoring salmon's return and working together to improve habitat.

As fall run Chinook return to Oregon's portion of the Klamath River this year, ODFW and partners will again monitor for spawning in this part of the river. Last year, more than 500 adult fall Chinook were confirmed to have spawned in habitat in the previous hydroelectric reach below Keno Dam, the first confirmed successful reproduction of Chinook salmon in Oregon's portion of the Klamath River Basin in over 100 years.

Anglers are reminded that all salmon fishing remains closed in the Oregon portion of the Klamath River Basin to allow for salmon populations to repopulate. Spencer Creek, a tributary, is also closing to all fishing a month early (Sept. 30 rather than Oct. 31) to protect spawning Chinook salmon.

Source: Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife

Mike Jones

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