California DFG to Release Three Million Salmon

Three million young Chinook salmon, or smolts, will be released at the mouth of the American River the week of May 10 by the Department of Fish and Game (DFG).

"Our goal is to increase the spawning returns of fish reared at Nimbus Hatchery to the lower American River," said Senior Environmental Scientist Joe Johnson of DFG's Central Region."Last year more than half of the salmon returning to the American River originated from the Mokelumne, Feather or Upper Sacramento rivers. This year we're taking clear steps to ensure that more fish return to the waters where they were raised."

To ensure the highest survival rates of the smolts on their down river migration, DFG and the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) are coordinating release timing, flows and closure of the Cross Channel Gates operated by BOR during the short migration period.