U.S. Appeals Court Rules in Favor of Endangered Species

U.S. Appeals Court Rules in Favor of Endangered Species

Victory

Pivotal Ruling Protects Klamath River's Recovering Salmon Runs

Contacts

Matt Mais, Yurok Tribe, 707.954.0976, [email protected]

Glen Spain, NW Regional Director and General Legal Counsel, IFR, 541.689.2000, [email protected]

Patti Goldman, Senior Attorney, Earthjustice, 206.578.5868, [email protected]

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals recently ruled in favor of the Yurok Tribe, Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations, and the Institute for Fisheries Resources in determining that the operations of a large federal irrigation project near the Klamath River's headwaters must adhere to Endangered Species Act protections for imperiled salmon and sucker fish (Koptu and C'waam).

The court's decision affirms that the Bureau of Reclamation's operation of the 240,000-acre Klamath Irrigation Project must adhere to the Endangered Species Act and ensure the survival of Southern Oregon/Northern California Coast (SONCC) Coho salmon and Chinook salmon.

"This decision supports the continued healing of the Klamath River and our community," said Joseph L. James, the Chairman of the Yurok Tribe. "Rather than celebrate this victory, we'd prefer to sit down with irrigators and commercial fishers to identify solutions that support a shared and prosperous future for all communities that rely on Klamath water."

"This decision is a win for every fisherman who depends on healthy salmon runs," said Glen Spain, the NW Regional Director and General Legal Counsel of the Institute for Fisheries Resources (IFR), a fishing industry-based salmon restoration organization. "When the river suffers, our coastal communities suffer and our jobs disappear. This ruling helps restore accountability."

"We hope this decision brings clarity to the law of the river and allows us to move forward together," said Patti Goldman, Senior Attorney at Earthjustice.

The Klamath River is a nationally significant river, and is capable of supporting indigenous peoples, sustainable agriculture, responsible timber harvest, abundant salmon fisheries, and an incredible diversity of species. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling reaffirms that the operation and management of the Klamath Project must be done in a way that does not directly contribute to the extinction of ESA-listed species.

The Yurok Tribe, Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations, and the Institute for Fisheries Resources filed the lawsuit in 2019 in response to years of violations of the Endangered Species Act by the Bureau of Reclamation on the Klamath River, where federal mismanagement of water diversions played a major in the decline of salmon populations. The court ruled that Reclamation's operations were in fact subject to the requirements of the ESA.

The Yurok Tribe's salmon quota, established by the Pacific Fishery Management Council, has been inadequate to meet the subsistence and ceremonial needs of the Yurok people for decades. This disruption has directly harmed the health and wellbeing of every member of the Yurok Tribe, which is California's largest tribe.

The Klamath River is the primary driver of ocean-based recreational and commercial salmon fisheries in Northern California. After an unprecedented three-year closure, California's salmon fisheries opened in 2026, still allowing only a very short season. In this economically disadvantaged region, revenue from commercial and recreational fishing represents an important source of jobs and income.

This press release was posted and distributed by the Yurok Tribe.

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