A five-year review by NOAA Fisheries confirms that four salmon and steelhead species in Northern California and Southern Oregon remain threatened: Southern Oregon/Northern California coast coho salmon, California coastal Chinook salmon, Central California coast steelhead, and California Central Valley steelhead. Habitat restoration efforts have mitigated some threats, but challenges like habitat loss, climate change, drought, warming waters, and wildfires persist.
The report emphasizes the importance of removing dams along the Klamath and Eel Rivers to restore habitats and aid recovery. Other fish passage improvement projects have also enhanced habitat access. NOAA officials believe these actions are critical for expanding resilient habitats and addressing the ongoing impacts of climate change on these species.