Northern Sacramento Valley Hatchery fish released in first year of planned three-year study

Who: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Golden Gate Salmon Assoc., Nor-Cal Guides Sportsmen’s Assoc., UC Davis, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation        

What: Experimental release of 180,000 salmon fry 75 miles downstream from the hatchery to examine impact on survival chances and homing instincts

Where: Scotty’s Landing, 12609 River Rd, Chico, CA 95973

When: April 13, 3 p.m.

Why: Experiment to see if using advanced release techniques and moving the salmon’s release point to 75 miles downstream from the Coleman National Fish Hatchery on Battle Creek will significantly improve survival chances without incurring additional straying. Currently, many Coleman salmon are lost in the first 75 miles of travel after release, especially in low water years.  Success could provide a critical way to boost salmon stocks in future low water years. 

Note: Reporters will have an opportunity to gather b-roll at Scotty’s Landing the day of release - involves tanker trucks transporting the salmon fry, portable floating net pen to receive and acclimate them prior to release, and jet boats to guide the net pen.  B-roll can also be provided by the Service of previous work - surgeons fitting the fish with tiny radio transmitters at the hatchery and shots of a control group being released earlier at the hatchery.

Partners include:

The Golden Gate Salmon Association

UC Davis

Nor-Cal Guides and Sportsmen’s Association

U.S. Bureau of Reclamation

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service