Klamath River restoration faces threat from California water plan

Tribes and environmental advocates warn that California Governor Gavin Newsom’s proposed Bay-Delta Plan could jeopardize salmon restoration efforts and tribal water rights in Northern California. The plan aims to provide greater flexibility for water use in cities and agriculture within the Central Valley, but critics argue it could divert water from the Trinity River, the Klamath River’s largest tributary.

Reducing flows in the Trinity River could increase water temperatures, potentially harming salmon populations. This follows the historic removal of four dams on the Klamath River, an effort led by advocates like Amy Bowers Cordalis to restore salmon runs and protect the watershed for the Yurok, Karuk, Hoopa, Shasta, and Klamath tribes. Advocates note that recent policy decisions and vetoes regarding water rights further increase the risk to the Klamath Basin.