Protect and Restore Free Flowing Oregon Rivers

This year, the Rogue River is projected to have the biggest fall chinook return on the Pacific Coast south of the Columbia River for the second year running. The anticipated salmon return on the Rogue is just blowing other rivers away.

Last year the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife projected 246,900 fall chinook would return in the Rogue. This year the department is projecting a whopping 462,800 will return to the Rogue with the fall run.

The Rogue stands out compared to neighboring rivers such as the much larger Klamath River just to its south, which saw near record low fall chinook returns last year, and is still struggling this year. What might explain the relative health of these Rogue runs? Well, there are two key factors: 1) The Rogue’s salmon have a dedicated water supply under federal law, shaped by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife biologists each year to benefit fish; and 2) Thanks to your support, the Rogue has seen a series of high priority fish barriers removed in recent years. No river on our coast has seen so many high priority barriers removed. And no other river is doing so well.

The lesson here seems to be if you give the salmon a chance, they will respond, and people will benefit too. WaterWatch will continue to work to ensure the still crucial work of barrier removal continues in the Rogue, and Rogue’s example is replicated in other basins.

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