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Klamath Fish Kill Home Page
A clearing house of information regarding the massive 2002 Klamath River fish kill, as well as the ongoing juvenile fish kills in the Klamath River.
In the Spring of 2002, agribusiness interests in
the Upper Klamath Basin celebrated the news that the Bush administration was
officially overturning salmon restoration efforts in the Klamath River.
Senator Gordon Smith flew into Klamath Falls for a press
conference to mark the occasion, and joined with Bush administration
officials for a ceremonial "opening of the headgates" where water was
diverted from the Klamath River.
Less than 5 months later, low water flows in the Klamath River sparked the largest fish kill in Northwest history. As many as 70,000 fall chinook died before they could spawn. This tragedy has had devastating consequences for salmon-dependent communities throughout Northern California and Oregon.
The years since this massive fish kill have been marked by lawsuits, Bush administration denial, and a misinformation campaign aimed at diverting attention away from water diversions. Missing has been any real action to prevent another adult fish kill, or steps to address the ongoing juvenile fish kills that plague the Klamath River.
Explore the links below to learn more about the ongoing fish kills in the Klamath Basin.
News
Senator Smith has "no regrets" over Klamath River fish kill. Click here to view a timeline of Smith's relationship to the Klamath Basin water crisis issue.Washington Post investigation reveals Vice President Dick Cheney's role in the 2002 Klamath fish kill
Wall Street Journal story links Senator Smith's 2002 re-election bid and Klamath fish kill decisions
Klamath fish kill news archive
Scientific Reports
California Department of Fish and Game report on 2002 Klamath Fish kill (large pdf file, Adobe Acrobat required to view)Fact Sheets and Background Documents
How Upper Klamath Basin water diversions put Klamath River salmon at riskFact and fiction about the 2002 Klamath River fish kill
