Hatchery Updates & Urgent Call for Everyone Impacted by Salmon Closure

GSSA Staff

Report Date:

https://goldenstatesalmon.org/

The holiday season is rapidly approaching and the State of California is betting on this distraction to prevent fishermen and women and all of those directly impacted by conditions in the Bay-Delta and its tributaries from telling their stories – speaking directly to the Water Resources Control Board about the hardships faced with the continued decline of salmon and this year’s fishery closure. We can’t let that happen!

Register By This Friday, November 3, 2023 at 12pm (noon) To Speak At An Upcoming Hearing

You will have the option to select between 3 upcoming State Water Board public hearings: November 17 (9:30am), December 1 (9:30am), and December 11 (4pm). The State Water Board has a duty to protect our fisheries and they must hear directly from those impacted by their failures to secure the river flows and water temperatures salmon need to survive and thrive. 

The current requirements pertaining to river temperatures and flows were adopted way back in 1995, nearly three decades ago. There’s been a complete failure of these antiquated policies, which can be seen in the collapse of salmon runs, the current salmon fishing shutdown, loss of fishing industry jobs and businesses, growing algae blooms and many salmon species on the brink of extinction. 

We Need Your Voice

Register Now To Speak At An Upcoming Public Hearing

Golden State Salmon Association needs your help to speak up and ensure the Draft Bay-Delta Staff Report protects salmon and other fish. It is imperative that they hear directly from you and those who rely on this incredible ecosystem and its fisheries.

Register before Friday, November 3 at 12pm (noon) to speak at an upcoming meeting in November or December. Talking points will be available as we get closer to the meetings.

Hatchery Returns – The Good and the Bad
Mokelumne Fish Hatchery

12,118 Fall-run Chinook have been counted as of October 24th, which is more than the total number of returns last year. According to projections by hatchery staff based on the number of returns at this time, this year may be the largest run since the hatchery was built in 1963. The peak of the run is typically during the first week of November.  

The hatchery is working towards its 10 million egg-take goal with an expected 9 million smolts, including the required 2 million mitigation fish to be released at Sherman Island. This year, an extra 2.6 million drought enhancement fish will also be produced. The majority of smolts will be trucked to release sites spanning Fort Baker, Richmond, Marin Rod & Gun Club, Tiberon, Half Moon Bay, Santa Cruz, and Monterrey in 2024. Last year a total of 6.4 million smolts were produced at Mokelumne Hatchery.

Nimbus Fish Hatchery

As of last Friday, the Nimbus Fish Hatchery has not started spawning. In fact, on October 30th the hatchery announced it was postponing the opening of the fish ladder citing water management issues. NBC local affiliate KCRA 3 reported last night that the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, who manages water flows into the Lower American River after being released from Folsom Dam, “confirmed that it is working to correct for anomalously low oxygen levels in the Lower American River.” Nimbus staff expect the oxygen issue will be resolved within a few days, which will allow the gates to the fish ladder to open.  

Anecdotal observations from hatchery staff are promising with those reporting that there are, as of last week, “a lot of fish and a typical number compared to prior years in the American River.” Nimbus will be taking eggs to reach a production goal of 4.5 million smolts and an additional 2 million fry, which will have parent-based tagging.

Feather River Fish Hatchery

Feather River Hatchery is close to meeting their egg-take goal of 11 million with a 9.5 million smolt goal. Of those, 6 million are mitigation and 3.5 million are drought enhancement fish. Of that 3.5 million, 1.5 million fall run Chinook will be released as fingerlings. 

There are still a lot of fish in the Feather River (a little more than this time last year) and they will continue to spawn until the house is full and max capacity is reached. They have space for about 14-15 million eggs. One million of the fish will most likely be released into the river, depending on water conditions, with hopes of the rest being trucked.

Coleman National Fish Hatchery

The Coleman Hatchery is approaching three weeks into spawning and they have handled, as of last week, about 4,000 fish with a preliminary count downstream in Battle Creek at ~5,000. This appears to be the 2nd lowest return in many years and hatchery staff are reporting a paltry 200 fish in holding. They are expecting a little under 9 million eggs, which will translate into about 8 to 8.3 million smolts out of a goal of 12 million – falling well below targets. And to make things worse, 2024 will still represent returns from a drought year class. Thus, it is expected that returns will continue to be depressed until October 2025 when some better numbers are anticipated.

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