SACRAMENTO — The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), in partnership with the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA), has released the California Salmon Strategy for a Hotter, Drier Future: Progress Report, highlighting ongoing efforts to restore and protect salmon populations across the state.
The report, which follows the original strategy released in January 2024, provides updates on 71 action items aimed at addressing threats to salmon caused by drought, climate change, habitat degradation, and other environmental stressors. According to the report, 67% of the action items are actively in development, 26% have been completed, and only 7% are in preliminary stages.
Key accomplishments over the past year include:
- Removal of outdated dams on the Klamath River, allowing fall-run Chinook salmon to return to historic spawning grounds.
- Development of fish passage projects, such as the Big Notch Project in Yolo County.
- Expansion of salmon habitat, including the SHaRP initiative and over $30 million in funded restoration projects.
- Advancements in monitoring technology, such as parental-based DNA tagging to track salmon populations.
- Strengthening of cross-agency and tribal partnerships to support long-term salmon resilience.
“California salmon are vital to our environment, economy, and cultural heritage,” said CNRA Secretary Wade Crowfoot. “These efforts show the state is taking bold steps toward long-term salmon recovery.”
To view the full report, visit: nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=231003.
