Nets Used to Sample Juvenile Suckers in Upper Klamath Lake, OR

Lost River and Shortnose suckers are on the verge of extinction in Upper Klamath Lake. Age data indicate that almost all adult suckers remaining in the lake spawning populations were hatched in the early 1990s. Most individuals are approaching their maximum life span, and for the past 22 years the recruitment of new fish into the adult populations has never exceeded mortality losses.  

WFRC scientists are working tirelessly to identify the factors driving the loss of juvenile suckers. Though the problem is complex, our researchers have plans to continue to home in on why juvenile suckers are dying in such large numbers.