Better coordination, better understanding themes as conference closes 

The breakout sessions concerned two themes – watershed processes and freshwater and marine habitats and communities – and took place Wednesday and Thursday, respectively.

Michael Hughes of the Klamath Tribes detailed the results of the watershed processes breakout session, while Pete Adams of the United States Geological Survey (USGS) covered the results from the other session.

Both sessions revealed concerns about improving the system of research and monitoring as well as the interface between the public and science communities, according to Hughes and Adams. Adams stated that it was suggested that the results from research and science-driven efforts be made more accessible and understandable to the public and to those who make management decisions.

Hughes, along with Tracy Fuentes of the USGS, reported comments regarding the appropriateness of intervention in ecosystems, the understanding of ground and surface water exchange, the importance of involving people and the capacity for the river to support salmon reintroduction above the dams, among a number of others.

Adams also reported a large number of comments, including such topics as the interactions between wild and hatchery fish, concerns about fish disease, concerns about avoiding single-species restoration efforts, the impacts of cyanotoxins on fish populations and the role of ocean conditions and an understanding of the Klamath’s estuary.

The senior science managers panel was composed of Frank Shipley of the USGS, Churchill Grimes of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Hao Tran of the United States Forest Service and William Pearcy of the University of Oregon. 

Shipley stated that he believes there is a stronger sense of a common mission with the advent of the Klamath Hydroelectric Settlement Agreement and the Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement (KBRA), but that those in charge of the scientific research “have a ways to go on the listening.” He also stated that while uncertainty is a part of the scientific process, there is often a gap between how that uncertainty is viewed by the public and policy makers.

Grimes briefly explained how the NMFS’ work is related to the Klamath Basin, including salmon life cycle modeling and population modeling, among other projects. He added that he believes “dam removal might provide the biggest restoration opportunity in history.”

Tran discussed the Forest Service’s current work in fire science and climate change, and read a number of his favorite quotes from the conference, including the statement, “We can litigate, legislate or communicate.” He said that the quote was a reminder of the need for communicating science as a means to reach restoration goals.

Pearcy, who had been invited to the conference to provide his critique, stated that he learned from the conference that there is a need for better coordination in basin restoration efforts, and he offered a number of suggestions for future research in the basin.

Pearcy suggested that researchers not place too much blame on oceans for declines in anadromous fish populations such as salmon, that more attention be paid to the effects of competition between hatchery fish and wild fish, that researchers understand how hatchery fish have lower fitness than wild fish and that that genetic trait can infiltrate future populations, and that there should be an awareness that removing Iron Gate Dam may transmit microbes from the reservoir, possibly spreading disease.

Pearcy presented a number of other suggestions and said that he believes that there should be an independent science group composed of individuals of diverse specialties to address the science needs for future work in the Klamath basin.

The closing remarks at the conference were given by Leslie Dierauf, who said, “To me, the purpose of the conference was to describe our collective understanding of this magnificent basin.”

Dierauf said that she believes that a scientific look at the basin must include a look at the human needs and social dynamics of the area, quoting Greg Addington of the Klamath Water Users Association, who said Tuesday, “Remember your communities and the people who live there.”

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