Salmon Being Affected By Parasite Detected In Stretches Of Klamath River

Despite the enthusiasm and clear ecological benefits of the removal of four Klamath River dams, a new issue is concerning in the river – a parasite that is sickening and killing some fish. Here’s more from the Redding Record Searchlight:

Scientists monitoring the Klamath’s waters found rising levels of a fish parasite called Ceratonova shasta, according to the report. Most juvenile salmon, which are especially susceptible to disease caused by the parasite, migrated out to sea in early spring 2026 — before the disease spread to high levels, said Toz Soto, the tribe’s senior biologist.

Soto said it’s possible most of the sick and dying fish came from the same hatchery.

While the dam’s removal “remains a historic and necessary step toward salmon recovery,” surveys of the river show it’s “still in the early stages of healing,” the tribe said in the report.

KRCR TV in Redding also has some video on the issue: