Klamath Coho Habitat Restoration Program (Bureau of Reclamation)

Since 2015, NFWF and Reclamation have administered over $5.7 million for projects aimed at conserving SONCC coho salmon in the Klamath River Basin. To date, the funded projects are on track to restore 700 acres of watershed habitat, install over 250 instream habitat structures and open nearly 40 miles of stream habitat, among other accomplishments.

Funded by Reclamation, the Klamath Program is closely coordinated among other federal and state partners including the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). 

NFWF will solicit a new round of Klamath Program proposals in winter 2024. Projects must have a direct benefit to SONCC coho salmon within the Klamath River Basin. These projects may be design, planning, or monitoring projects that can demonstrate a clear and direct benefit for SONCC coho salmon and meet the objectives of the Klamath Program as required by the 2019 Biological Opinion for Klamath Project Operations issued by NMFS.

Project types that will be given the highest priority include:

• Access improvement and barrier removal projects;
• Projects that improve habitat and access to coldwater refugia;
• Instream flow and habitat enhancement and protection projects; and
• Water conservation projects.