CASE STUDY-DAMS and SALMON on the KLAMATH RIVER

Read the case study on pages 305-306 and respond to the prompts below:

Enlist some ecosystem services provided by the Klamath River in the past, and the impact of
anthropogenic activities on the population of Salmon.

The Klamath River played a role in the water cycle, provided a habitat and allowed for the
migration of salmon, and was the third largest salmon fishery in the West Coast. For migration,
salmon eggs would be hatched upstream of the river, where the young fish would later migrate
down the river into the ocean and mature. After they had matured, they would migrate upstream
and lay eggs in the same area, and this process would continue. Anthropogenic activities
impacted the population of Salmon for in the early 1900s, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
planned to build canals to drain two large leaked which were the source of the river. Not only did
this result in explosed lake bottoms which turned into farmland, it also reduced water levels in
the river which threatened the population of salmon. Additionally, the dam that was built affected
the mitigation process of the salmon and raised the water temperatures, two things which also
negatively impacted the salmon population.

Explain (with evidence) how the various anthropogenic factors were causing a decline in the
population of various species of Salmon.

The Klamath River continuously endured a loss in its population of salmon due to various
anthropogenic factors. For instance, when farmers settled the land by the river, they diverted
water to irrigate their crops which reduced the salmon population immensely and affected
commercial farmers and the local Native American tribes. Hydroelectric dams were also
implemented in the river which not only created a barrier to the mitigation of salmon, but the
pools behind the dams also resulted in a rise in water temperature not favorable to salmon.
Lastly, climate change, also caused by humans, resulted less snow which meant less water for
the river. Since agricultural use of the river continued to occur, there was a reduction in the river
flow to low levels which produced another threat to the population of salmon.

How did the U.S.Endangered Species Act envision to protect the Salmon? Was it successful?
Explain with evidence from the text.

According to the text, the U.S. Endangered Species Act envisioned to protect the Coho Salmon
putting a restriction on water withdrawals such that there could not be a reduction in the river’s
flow below the minimal level in which this species of salmon could thrive. In regards to the
salmon, it was successful for it allowed them to thrive, but in regards to economics, it was not
successful for it prevented farmers from obtaining enough water to irrigate their crops. In turn,
this threatened their way of living.

Draw a timeline to illustrate the action steps taken by various agencies and their effects in
restoring the salmon populations in Klamath river.