Who
Golden State Salmon Association (GSSA), CA Dept. of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), City of Richmond, Richmond Police Activities League (PAL), and Terminal One Development LLC
What
Release of 200,000 juvenile fall-run Chinook salmon smolts in the City of Richmond AND a boat full of inner-city kids organized by the Richmond Police Activities League to observe the release.
Where
1500 Dornan St, Richmond (and the Richmond Marina to interview kids when they return)
When
Saturday evening, June 24, 2023. Boat picks up kids at Richmond Marina at 7pm. CDFW tanker trucks arrive 1500 Dornan St at 8pm. Fish released at approximately 8:45pm. Kids return to Richmond Marina at 9:15pm
Why
The California Dept. of Fish and Wildlife is trucking many of its baby Feather River Fish Hatchery salmon to San Pablo and San Francisco Bays for release. In most years this will greatly increase their survival compared to if they were released into drought-stressed Central Valley rivers.
The Golden State Salmon Association has worked with CDFW to identify new sites where hatchery raised salmon can be safely released into SF Bay. GSSA worked with the City of Richmond and Terminal One Development LLC to identify and win permission for a release site in Richmond. This site will provide a big survival benefit compared to the traditional CDFW release site at Mare Island near Vallejo.
The Richmond PAL sees an opportunity to turn this into an event their kids could learn from and enjoy – providing experiences to learn about salmon and hatchery efforts. GSSA has secured the charter boat Salty Lady to take the kids to see the release close up from the water. It could be a first boat ride for some or all of these local kids.
Press are being invited to attend the release onshore at the site at 1500 Dornan Drive or on the boat with the kids. CDFW and GSSA officials will be there to interview. Interviews with the kids can also be had when their boat returns to Richmond’s Marina Bay harbormaster dock, expected around 9:15pm. GSSA will make video available from both the onshore release site and aboard the boat with the Richmond PAL kids.
