Mid Klamath River Fall Chinook Spawner Survey | F19AS00203

Opportunity Information: Apply for F19AS00203

The "Mid Klamath River Fall Chinook Spawner Survey" is a discretionary grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service (CFDA 15.608) focused on monitoring fall Chinook salmon in the Klamath Basin, with particular emphasis on the Salmon River and its tributaries. The project builds on more than a decade of ongoing, cooperative field surveys led by the Mid Klamath Watershed Council (MKWC) in partnership with the USDA Forest Service, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and other local and agency collaborators. The overall purpose is to generate consistent, on-the-ground biological and spatial data that supports long-term fisheries assessment and management in the basin.

The core work centers on conducting carcass-based spawner surveys to estimate in-river run size, commonly described as escapement, for fall Chinook salmon. In practical terms, the surveys aim to account for how many fish successfully returned to freshwater and contributed to spawning in the Salmon River and the broader Klamath system. Alongside escapement estimation, the effort tracks key population and life-history indicators, including run timing (when fish are present and spawning), spawning distribution (where they spawn across the watershed), length-frequency information (size structure), and sex ratio. These metrics help managers understand year-to-year changes in abundance, condition, and spatial use of habitat, and they provide a basis for comparing trends over time.

A significant component of the project involves biological sampling and mark recovery. Field crews collect scales, tissue samples, and otoliths (ear bones) from sampled fish, which can be used for age determination, stock identification, genetic analysis, and other laboratory assessments depending on program needs. The surveys also include recovering heads from adipose fin-clipped salmon, which is typically associated with hatchery marking and can support coded-wire tag or related tracking programs. In addition to Chinook-specific objectives, surveyors record incidental observations of other salmonids encountered during fieldwork, particularly coho salmon and steelhead, adding broader ecological value to the monitoring effort without changing the primary focus.

The opportunity also supports redd mapping, which documents spawning nests and helps characterize spawning habitat use and density. MKWC contributes to this by recording GPS waypoints for all redd locations encountered on the North Fork, South Fork, and mainstem of the Salmon River. These spatial data can be integrated into basinwide maps and analyses to identify core spawning reaches, track shifts in distribution, and inform habitat protection or restoration priorities.

Finally, the grant emphasizes community engagement through training and education. MKWC continues to provide instruction and hands-on opportunities for volunteers and local community members, strengthening local capacity to participate in watershed science and stewardship. This training component helps maintain a reliable survey workforce, promotes consistent field methods, and builds local understanding of salmonid ecology and conservation needs.

Administratively, this listing is a Notice of Intent rather than an open competition. The award has already been made to the Mid Klamath Watershed Council, with an anticipated single award and a funding ceiling of $28,193. Eligible applicants were identified as nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education), but in this case the opportunity is not accepting new applicants because it has been awarded.

• The Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Mid Klamath River Fall Chinook Spawner Survey" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.608.
• This funding opportunity was created on May 01, 2019.
• Applicants must submit their applications by This is a Notice of Intent. The opportunity has been awarded to the Mid Klamath Watershed Council.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $28,193.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.

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