Klamath River

California

Designated Reach: January 19, 1981. From the mouth to 3,600 feet below Iron Gate Dam. The Salmon River from its confluence with the Klamath to the confluence of the North and South Forks of the Salmon River. The North Fork of the Salmon River from the Salmon River confluence to the southern boundary of the Marble Mountain Wilderness Area. The South Fork of the Salmon River from the Salmon River confluence to the Cecilville Bridge. The Scott River from its confluence with the Klamath to its confluence with Schackleford Creek. All of Wooley Creek.

Classification/Mileage: Wild — 11.7 miles; Scenic — 23.5 miles; Recreational — 250.8; Total — 286.0 miles.

The Klamath WSR includes the Klamath River and its principal tributaries—the Scott and Salmon Rivers and Wooley Creek. The Klamath River reach begins 3,600 feet below Iron Gate Dam and ends at the Pacific Ocean. The upper 127 miles of the Klamath is administered by the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management, and the remainder is administered by the state of California with support from the National Park Service and Native American tribes.

Klamath tributaries flow from the Mount Shasta, Marble Mountain, Siskiyou and Trinity Alps Wilderness areas. Elevations in the watershed vary from 14,162 feet to sea level. All tributaries, except one short segment of the Scott, are administered by the U.S. Forest Service.

The Klamath River's outstandingly remarkable value is its anadromous fishery. The river supports several anadromous species during most of their in-river life stages, including Chinook salmon (spring- and fall-runs), coho salmon, steelhead trout (summer- and winter-runs), coastal cutthroat trout, green and white sturgeon, and Pacific lamprey. The evolutionarily significant unit of coho salmon, the Southern Oregon/Northern California Coast coho, is federally listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act; the Klamath River is designated critical habitat. The anadromous fishery supports the river's sport fishing guide and resort industry, Native American subsistence and ceremonial culture and the ocean commercial and sport fishing industry.

Other notable values include recreation and scenery. High spring-season flows support whitewater boating. Recreationists are attracted to the Klamath's long rafting season and whitewater. Whitewater classifications generally vary between Class II and Class V, with one instance of Class VI at Ishi Pishi Falls on the Klamath River. Angling is at its peak during the fall season's anadromous fish runs, although fishing activity is a year-round activity. Visitors also enjoy viewing salmonids, especially during migration seasons. The river is an important wildlife habitat corridor.

The river also supports an abundance of raptors.