I am certain that over several years at most the river will clean itself out and that the salmon will return. What will be an ongoing issue is flooding and irrigation. If they survive at all, many farms in the area will have to convert to grazing livestock or switch to greenhouse farming of high value crops due to lack of water. Wait until the next “atmospheric river” barrels into that area of California and you will see nearly every property next to the river be flooded and/or washed away.
“I am certain that over several years at most the river will clean itself out and that the salmon will return.”
Will they return if no salmon are hatched in the traditional spawning areas?
Atmospheric ‘rivers’ otherwise known as rain are insignificant compared to a warm Spring rain melting the snowpack in the upper basin. The Klamath rose about 30 feet in ‘97.
The farmers were guaranteed water when their ancestors settled the area. They’ve been screwed before.
Clinton declared most of the national forests ‘roadless’ prohibiting logging. Logging supported schools. Think any kids will be raised in those areas? Gold miners are prevented from dredging as DFW was convinced that the disturbance of the streambed is harmful to fish. But it’s OK to send an estimated 17 million cubic yards downriver.
It’s another chapter in the process of eliminating people in Northern Ca. and Oregon. Next will be the rivers of Idaho and Washington. I do have a house on the river near Seiad Valley.