In a landmark move to support California’s struggling salmon populations, the CDFW has released approximately 3.5 million juvenile fall-run Chinook salmon directly into the main stem of the Sacramento River — a first in the agency’s hatchery operations.
The fish, released in mid-April near Redding and Butte City, were raised at the Feather River and Mokelumne River fish hatcheries as part of a new strategy to revive natural spawning in the Sacramento River, where returns have fallen to crisis levels.
“We strongly support the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s bold decision,” said Scott Artis, executive director of the Golden State Salmon Association. “This is exactly the kind of action we need to help rebuild our salmon runs and revive California’s fisheries.”
The move comes amid widespread concern for the future of fall-run Chinook in California. For the third consecutive year, the federal Pacific Fishery Management Council has recommended a complete closure of commercial salmon fishing in the state due to low returns, while also proposing highly restricted recreational seasons.
While other parts of the Central Valley are showing signs of improvement thanks to wetter conditions and increased hatchery production, the main stem of the Sacramento River remains alarmingly low in adult returns.
CDFW Fisheries Branch Chief Jay Rowan said the decision reflects a long-term commitment to restoring these foundational populations. “The Sacramento River’s naturally spawning salmon have historically driven California’s salmon fisheries,” he said. “We’re taking extra steps to rebuild those stocks after back-to-back droughts devastated spawning and migration conditions.”
The 3.5 million smolts released are part of an additional 9.7 million salmon produced in 2025 above CDFW’s normal production targets. Altogether, more than 28 million fall-run Chinook will be released this year through partnerships with agencies such as the Department of Water Resources, the Bureau of Reclamation, and fishing industry groups.
The releases have been strategically timed to coincide with increased river flows, improving the smolts’ chances of reaching the ocean. They’re also being synchronized with large-volume releases from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Coleman National Fish Hatchery to flood the river and reduce predation.
CDFW also contributed 10 million salmon eggs to the Coleman facility to help offset declining adult returns and meet future production goals.
Officials hope these efforts will result in more adult salmon returning in three years to naturally spawn in the Sacramento River, a critical step in rebuilding the state’s iconic fishery.
