Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
California Trucks Salmon to Pacific; Low River Levels Blamed
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 4 years ago on
April 30, 2021

Share

SAN FRANCISCO — California officials will again truck millions of young salmon raised at fish hatcheries in the state’s Central Valley agricultural region to the Pacific Ocean because projected river conditions show that the waterways the fish use to travel downstream will be historically low and warm due to increasing drought.

Officials announced the massive trucking operation on Wednesday, saying the effort is aimed at ensuring “the highest level of survival for the young salmon on their hazardous journey to the Pacific Ocean.”

Trucking Effort to Ensure Survival Due to Conditions Caused by Drought

“Trucking young salmon to downstream release sites has proven to be one of the best ways to increase survival to the ocean during dry conditions,” Jason Julienne, North Central Region Hatchery Supervisor said in a statement.

California is now in its second year of drought after a winter with little precipitation and it’s the state’s fourth-driest year on record, especially in the northern two-thirds of the state, according to the California Department of Water Resources.

Illustrating the state’s risk of drought, record low reservoir levels led Gov. Gavin Newsom last week to proclaim a regional drought emergency for the Russian River watershed in Sonoma and Mendocino counties.

More than 16.8 million young salmon from four Central Valley hatcheries will be trucked to coastal sites around the San Pablo, San Francisco, Half Moon and Monterey bays.

Getting the fish transported means taking about 146 truckloads to the Pacific Ocean from four state hatcheries and federal officials will do the same from one hatchery, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

California’s iconic native Chinook Salmon need cold water to survive but dams have blocked their historic retreats to the chilly upper reaches of Northern California’s Sacramento River tributaries.

Struggle Continues Between Fishing Industry and Valley Farmers for Water

The fishing industry and Central Valley farmers are in a constant struggle over the same river water to sustain their livelihoods, with fish supporters lobbying for higher river water levels and farmers against it so that so they can draw water to irrigate crops.

John McManus, president of the Golden State Salmon Association, which advocates for fishers, told the Chronicle he appreciates the extra effort to save the fall-run chinook amid the drought.

But he said the underlying problem for salmon is that state and federal water officials have allowed too much water to be pulled from rivers and creeks for agricultural irrigation.

“These river conditions are made worse by decisions that put salmon last,” he told the San Francisco Chronicle.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

UP NEXT

Suspect Arrested in Connection With Deadly California Fertility Clinic Bombing

Visalia Motorists Take Note: Traffic Shift Coming to Riggin Avenue

6 hours ago

Really, Secretary Rubio? I’m Lying About the Kids Dying Under Trump?

7 hours ago

Trump Signs Proclamation Banning Travel From 12 Countries, CBS News Reports

U.S. President Donald Trump signed a proclamation banning travel from certain countries, CBS News reported on Wednesday, citing administrati...

4 hours ago

4 hours ago

Trump Signs Proclamation Banning Travel From 12 Countries, CBS News Reports

5 hours ago

Sunnyvale Pitmaster Smokes Fresno BBQ Competition for Golden Ticket to World Championships

6 hours ago

What We Know About the Colorado Attack on Israeli Hostage Demonstrators

6 hours ago

Visalia Motorists Take Note: Traffic Shift Coming to Riggin Avenue

7 hours ago

Really, Secretary Rubio? I’m Lying About the Kids Dying Under Trump?

Fresno clovis caleb quick
7 hours ago

Judge Denies Release in Caleb Quick Killing. Defense Cites Alleged Assaults by Victim

7 hours ago

Nebraska Is the Latest State to Ban Transgender Students From Girls’ Sports

7 hours ago

US Vetoes UN Security Council Resolution Demanding an Immediate Gaza Ceasefire

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend