First Salmon Spotted in Klamath Tributary Since 1912
Terrific news as Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife biologists reported a fall-run Chinook salmon on Wednesday along a tributary of the Klamath River above the former J.C. Boyle Dam site, becoming "the first anadromous fish to return to the Klamath Basin in Oregon since 1912." The salmon, and others, likely traveled 230 miles from the Pacific Ocean to reach the tributary just months after the four lower dams on the Klamath River were removed. Find out what's next for the Klamath River in the upcoming fall issue of Instream.

Support Mid-Willamette Instream Water Right Applications
Last month we asked for your help in support of the first round of new instream water right applications in the northern subbasins of the Willamette River. Now we need your help with applications in the mid-Willamette, including the North, Middle, and South forks of the Santiam River, Calapooia River, Luckiamute River, Long Tom River, West Fork Marys River, and dozens more. Check your inbox this Tuesday for a WaterWatch action alert with remarks you can modify and submit ahead of the Oct. 31st public comment deadline.

Big Night of Giving, Bidding at WaterWatch Annual Auction
Great weather, great food, and great company made for a fantastic event Oct. 5th at WaterWatch's 22nd Annual Celebration of Oregon's Rivers. Thank you to everyone who donated artwork, destination trips, and custom fishing and guiding packages for our live and silent auctions. Photos by Nina Johnson are at WaterWatch.org, but we've shared her entire gallery at our WaterWatch Flickr account. Thank you again for your generosity and excitement, and we look forward to celebrating with you for WaterWatch's 40th anniversary next year!

Fall Issue of Instream Arrives in Mailboxes Next Week
Featuring articles on the recent approval of updated groundwater allocation rules, opportunities to improve the Columbia River Treaty update, what's next for the Klamath River in the wake of the biggest dam removal project in history, and the latest on Winchester Dam, our fall issue of Instream went to print this week and will be in your mailbox shortly. As far as the cover image goes, we'll let you keep guessing as to what it is — a plant, a blood vessel, a microbe? Find out soon, and catch up with previous issues of Instream here.

Withheld Water Results in Massive Avian Botulism Outbreak
WaterWatch has worked for decades to bring water demands in the Klamath Basin back into balance with what nature can provide for the region's fish, wildlife, and people — and the millions of birds that access the basin every year while migrating along the Pacific Flyway. Sadly, with water laws that place wildlife at the very end of lengthy cycles of use, OPB and other outlets report nearly 100,000 birds have died at Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge in what's been described as the worst-ever avian botulism outbreak in the Klamath Basin.

Dangerous Worldwide Declines In River Water and Flows
Utilizing data collected by the World Meteorological Organization, The Guardian reported this week rivers worldwide are drying at the fastest rate in 30 years, further aggravating climate change and putting the global fresh water supply at risk. As rivers continue to bottom out in terms of volume and streamflows, glaciers are also in trouble with more than 60 billion metric tons of water estimated to have been lost in 2023 alone. The mountains of western North America, in particular, were noted for the "extreme melting" of glacial ice.