CDFW Newshttps://wildlife.ca.gov/NewsFeather River Fish Hatchery to Increase Production of Fall-Run Chinook Salmon to Combat Impacts of Drought, Thiamine Deficiencyhttps://wildlife.ca.gov/News/Archive/feather-river-fish-hatchery-to-increase-production-of-fall-run-chinook-salmon-to-combat-impacts-of-drought-thiamine-deficiencySalmonFri, 16 Dec 2022 09:43:15 GMTCDFW and the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) have announced that the Feather River Fish Hatchery in Oroville will increase its production of fall-run Chinook salmon in 2023 to approximately 9.5 million fish to combat the impacts of drought and a thiamine deficiency affecting natural spawning and in-river production.<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>** Joint News Release Issued by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the California Department of Water Resources **</strong></p> <p>The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) have announced that the Feather River Fish Hatchery in Oroville will increase its production of fall-run Chinook salmon in 2023 to approximately 9.5 million fish to combat the impacts of drought and a thiamine deficiency affecting natural spawning and in-river production.</p> <p>It is the second consecutive year the Feather River Fish Hatchery will exceed its typical production quota of 6 million fall-run Chinook salmon to help sustain California’s commercial and recreational salmon fisheries. The hatchery raised and released 8 million fall-run Chinook salmon smolts in 2022.</p> <p>The hatchery, which is owned by DWR and operated by CDFW, is seeking to produce approximately 8 million fall-run Chinook salmon smolts and 1.5 million fall-run Chinook salmon fingerlings in 2023 – a 3.5 million increase over typical production goals.</p> <p>“With the combination of prolonged drought, low adult returns, and a thiamine deficiency impacting in-river production, we feel it’s extremely important to maximize the actions we have available to us in the hatcheries to help sustain this extremely important population of salmon,” said CDFW Fisheries Branch Chief Jay Rowan.</p> <p>The Feather River Fish Hatchery has collected 17 million fall-run Chinook salmon eggs to help meet these elevated production goals – 2 million more eggs that the hatchery’s typical egg collection target. Approximately 11,000 adult, fall-run Chinook salmon returned to the hatchery in 2022, a significant, below-average return.</p> <p>Two million of the additional salmon smolts produced will be trucked to release sites in the San Pablo and San Francisco bays to maximize survival. Another 1.5 million of these additional fish will be released into the Feather River earlier in the season and at a smaller size than typical river releases. This is an experimental effort to take advantage of more favorable weather and river conditions in early spring. Twenty-five percent of the fall-run Chinook salmon produced by the Feather River Fish Hatchery in 2023 will be marked and tagged so that scientists can monitor the success of the releases.</p> <p>“Releasing additional fall-run in both the Feather River and near San Francisco Bay will provide more salmon for harvest opportunities and for research,” said DWR State Water Project Assistant Deputy Director John Yarbrough. “It’s critical that when we change strategies, even during drought, we have the tools in place to understand both the impacts and the benefits of these actions. Continuing to mark these fall-run and follow them throughout their lifecycle will give us the information necessary to inform future actions.”</p> <p>In the past few years, California’s Chinook salmon populations have suffered from a thiamine deficiency, which is a lack of thiamine or Vitamin B1, which can cause death in both juvenile and adult fish. The thiamine deficiency has been linked to booming anchovy populations in the ocean and adult salmon feeding almost exclusively on anchovies compared to a more diverse diet of prey species.</p> <p>CDFW and DWR have been able to successfully treat both adult salmon returning to the Feather River Fish Hatchery and the fertilized eggs produced. Until there are changes in the ocean food web, thiamine deficiency will continue to be a problem for these fish. CDFW and DWR will continue to manage the Feather River Fish Hatchery to produce salmon for harvest and conservation using the best available science and management practices.</p> <p><strong><em>CDFW photo: A Feather River Fish Hatchery staffer checks on the status of fertilized Chinook salmon eggs incubating within the hatchery.</em></strong></p> <p>###</p> <p><em><strong>Media Contacts:</strong><br /> <a href="mailto:Peter.Tira@wildlife.ca.gov">Peter Tira</a>, CDFW Communications, (916) 215-3858<br /> <a href="mailto:sabrina.washington@water.ca.gov">Sabrina Washington</a>, DWR Public Affairs, (916) 820-7664</em></p> CDFW Announces the Availability of $200 million in New Grant Funding Under Drought, Climate and Nature-Based Solutions Initiativeshttps://wildlife.ca.gov/News/Archive/cdfw-announces-the-availability-of-200-million-in-new-grant-funding-under-drought-climate-and-nature-based-solutions-initiativesGrantsWed, 30 Nov 2022 12:46:32 GMTCDFW has announced the availability of over $200 million in new funding for multi-benefit ecosystem restoration and protection projects under Drought, Climate and Nature-Based Solutions Initiatives.<p>The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has announced the availability of over $200 million in new funding for multi-benefit ecosystem restoration and protection projects under Drought, Climate and Nature-Based Solutions Initiatives. This new funding for restoration and protection of critical habitat and watersheds statewide also supports key initiatives including conserving 30 percent of California’s lands and coastal waters by 2030 under California’s 30x30 initiative, Nature-Based Solutions, and increasing the pace and scale of restoration through Cutting the Green Tape.</p> <p>CDFW has also launched a new <a href="/Conservation/Watersheds/Restoration-Grants/Concept-Application">online application portal</a> to receive applications for grant funding under these new initiatives. As part of its Cutting the Green Tape efforts, this streamlined application and review process will remain available on an ongoing basis, allowing applicants to submit one application for consideration under multiple funding streams. CDFW is accelerating the review and approval process under this funding with the goal to review and approve the award for grants for selected projects within 30 days of receipt. Following awards, CDFW will work to develop agreements for awarded projects.</p> <p>“The time to act is right now because California’s ecosystems face dire conditions for our species,” said CDFW Director Charlton H. Bonham. “This funding is absolutely the push we all need to put some largescale projects across the finish line.”</p> <p>An overview of the new funding available for restoration, including grants, is as follows:</p> <p><strong>Drought Emergency: Protecting Salmon - $100 million</strong></p> <p>In response to current drought conditions, the California Legislature authorized $100 million to allow CDFW to protect and restore salmon in 2022 and 2023. This funding will support restoration and protection projects that enhance salmon resiliency to drought and climate change.</p> <p>CDFW also plans to dedicate $20 million of this funding within the Klamath River Watershed to projects demonstrating support from and collaboration with Tribes and landowner interests. This $20 million will be available as follows:</p> <ul> <li>Up to $10 million available for projects within the Scott River and its tributaries; and</li> <li>Up to $10 million available for projects within the Shasta River and its tributaries</li> </ul> <p><strong>Nature-Based Solutions</strong></p> <p>Governor Gavin Newsom’s 2020 <a href="https://www.gov.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/10.07.2020-EO-N-82-20-signed.pdf" target="_blank">Executive Order N-82-20 (PDF)</a> outlines a comprehensive and results-oriented agenda to expand nature-based solutions across California, advancing an approach to restoration that works with and enhances nature to help address societal challenges. Two new programs within CDFW will work toward this goal.</p> <p><em>Wetlands and Mountain Meadows Restoration</em></p> <p>As part of the <a href="https://resources.ca.gov/Initiatives/Expanding-Nature-Based-Solutions" target="_blank">Nature-Based Solutions Initiative</a>, up to $54 million is available for projects that restore or enhance wetlands and mountain meadow ecosystems with quantifiable greenhouse gas reduction benefits, consistent with the <a href="https://resources.ca.gov/-/media/CNRA-Website/Files/Initiatives/Expanding-Nature-Based-Solutions/CNRA-Report-2022---Final_Accessible_Compressed.pdf" target="_blank">Natural and Working Lands Climate Smart Strategy (PDF)</a> and <a href="https://www.californianature.ca.gov/pages/30x30" target="_blank">Pathways to 30x30</a>. The program will also support pilot projects for CDFW's forthcoming Beaver Restoration Program.</p> <p><em>Wildlife Corridors</em></p> <p>Up to $42 million under Nature-Based Solutions will be available for CDFW for connectivity planning and implementation projects consistent with the <a href="/SWAP">State Wildlife Action Plan</a>, the <a href="/Science-Institute/Habitat-Connectivity#56328970-terrestrial-habitat-connectivity">state’s efforts on connectivity</a>, and the <a href="https://dot.ca.gov/-/media/dot-media/programs/legislative-affairs/documents/fish_passage_report_2020-final-a11y.pdf" target="_blank">Fish Passage Annual Legislative Report (PDF)</a> or efforts to allow fish and wildlife the freedom to roam in California by accelerating fish and wildlife corridor projects.</p> <p><strong>Addressing Climate Impacts</strong></p> <p>Up to $35 million is available to support projects addressing urgent degrading water and habitat conditions due to climate change impacts, including for grants. Eligible uses of these funds include purchasing water from willing sellers to benefit wildlife, protecting instream flows, building water conservation projects, implementing emergency restoration activities and conservation strategies identified in the State Wildlife Action Plan with a priority on actions that protect the Species of Greatest Conservation Need identified in the plan.</p> <p>CDFW has developed a single set of General Grant Program Guidelines with an overview of eligible project types, priorities and information on the application process, available at <a href="/Conservation/Watersheds/Restoration-Grants/Concept-Application">wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Watersheds/Restoration-Grants/Concept-Application</a>. Applications submitted under these new initiatives may also be considered for further evaluation under CDFW’s Proposition 1 and Proposition 68 Grant Programs, and a separate call for projects will also be released for these programs in early 2023.</p> <p>More information about these funding opportunities, including guidelines and how to apply, general information about CDFW’s grant programs, as well as a schedule for upcoming grant solicitations, once available, can be found at <a href="/grants">wildlife.ca.gov/Grants</a>.</p> <p><em><strong>Media Contacts</strong>:<br /> <a href="mailto:matt.wells@wildlife.ca.gov">Matt Wells</a>, CDFW Watershed Restoration Grant Branch, (916) 216-7848<br /> <a href="mailto:ken.paglia@wildlife.ca.gov">Ken Paglia</a>, CDFW Communications, (916) 825-7120</em></p> <p>###</p> Drought Forces Closure of Shasta Valley Wildlife Area to Waterfowl Hunting; Other Northeastern Waterfowl Properties Impacted by Water Shortageshttps://wildlife.ca.gov/News/Archive/drought-forces-closure-of-shasta-valley-wildlife-area-to-waterfowl-hunting-other-northeastern-waterfowl-properties-impacted-by-water-shortages1WaterfowlFri, 16 Sep 2022 08:42:49 GMTThe California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has announced that the Shasta Valley Wildlife Area in Siskiyou County will be closed to waterfowl hunting for the entirety of the 2022-23 season as a result of lost wetlands and waterfowl habitat due to ongoing drought conditions.<p>The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has announced that the Shasta Valley Wildlife Area in Siskiyou County will be closed to waterfowl hunting for the entirety of the 2022-23 season as a result of lost wetlands and waterfowl habitat due to ongoing drought conditions.</p> <p>The Northeastern Zone waterfowl season runs from October 1, 2022, through January 11, 2023. The Shasta Valley Wildlife Area closure includes the preseason Northeastern Zone Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days scheduled for September 17-18, 2022, and the postseason Veterans and Active Military Personnel Waterfowl Hunting Days scheduled for January 14-15, 2023.</p> <p>The 4,700-acre Shasta Valley Wildlife Area typically provides important seasonal wetlands for migrating waterfowl supplied by three reservoirs on the property. Two of those reservoirs – Steamboat Lake and Bass Lake – are completely dry and a third reservoir – Trout Lake – is at approximately 25 percent of capacity. Closing the wildlife area to all waterfowl hunting is necessary to protect the waterfowl using what limited habitat remains.</p> <p>The Shasta Valley Wildlife Area will be open for upland game bird hunting for dove, quail, snipe and pheasant as regulations permit. Pheasant hunting is allowed only on Sundays during the season and will be by reservation only with no walk-ins, sweat line or refills. A Type A Season Pass or Type B Season Pass is required for all non-Junior Hunting License holders. Reservation applications for Sunday pheasant hunts are available at <a href="https://www.ca.wildlifelicense.com/internetsales/" target="_blank">CDFW’s Online License Sales and Services website</a>. Shasta Valley’s annual apprentice pheasant hunt for Junior Hunting License holders will take place Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022. The area will be closed to all hunting Sunday, December 25, 2022, in observance of the Christmas holiday.</p> <p>Waterfowl hunting opportunities will vary at other Northeastern Zone state and federal lands popular with duck and goose hunters. Hunters are strongly advised to call ahead in preparing for any Northeastern Zone waterfowl hunt. Other popular public waterfowl hunting areas in the Northeastern Zone include:</p> <p><a href="/Lands/Places-to-Visit/Ash-Creek-WA">Ash Creek Wildlife Area</a><br /> A bright spot among Northeastern Zone public hunting areas, Ash Creek expects its wetlands to be mostly flooded for waterfowl season due to its combination of spring-fed creeks and groundwater supplies. Reservations are required to hunt the opening weekend, October 1-2, along with a Type A or Type B Season Pass for all non-Junior Hunting License holders. Ash Creek also will be open for the preseason Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days on a walk-in basis. No reservations or other check-in procedures required. (530) 294-5824.</p> <p><a href="/Lands/Places-to-Visit/Butte-Valley-WA">Butte Valley Wildlife Area</a><br /> Butte Valley began pumping groundwater in July to flood its seasonal wetlands in time for the Northeastern Zone waterfowl opener. Butte Valley expects to have 600 or 700 acres flooded by opening day. Reservations are required to hunt opening weekend along with a Type A or Type B Season Pass for all non-Junior Hunting License holders. Butte Valley also will be open for the preseason Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days on a walk-in basis. (530) 398-4627.</p> <p><a href="/Lands/Places-to-Visit/Honey-Lake-WA">Honey Lake Wildlife Area</a><br /> Another option for youth hunters, the Honey Lake Wildlife Area Fleming Unit will be open for the preseason Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days on a walk-in basis though hunters will find far fewer wetlands than in 2021-22. The Dakin Unit will be dry this upcoming season – though still open to dry field waterfowl hunting and upland game bird hunting. The Fleming Unit will see just about 25 percent of its seasonal wetlands flooded by the October 1 season opener. Reservations are required to hunt opening weekend. A Type A or Type B Season Pass is required of all non-Junior Hunting License holders. (530) 254-6644.</p> <p><a href="/Lands/Places-to-Visit/Willow-Creek-WA">Willow Creek Wildlife Area</a><br /> This 2,700-acre wildlife area north of Susanville in Lassen County expects 250 acres of huntable, flooded wetlands by the Northeastern Zone season opener Oct. 1. Reservations are required to hunt opening weekend. A Type A or Type B Season Pass is required of all non-Junior Hunting License holders. No preseason youth hunt will take place. (530) 254-6644.</p> <p><a href="https://www.fws.gov/refuge/modoc" target="_blank">Modoc National Wildlife Refuge</a><br /> Water conditions have improved at the Modoc National Wildlife Refuge outside of Alturas and the refuge will once again welcome youth waterfowl hunters Sept. 17-18 after having to cancel its youth hunt last season. The youth waterfowl hunt at Modoc is only open to reservation holders. The refuge’s Northeastern Zone general season opener is also on schedule but with a reduced quota of 50 hunters for opening weekend. Opening weekend Oct. 1-2, like the youth shoot before it, is only open to reservation holders. After opening weekend, Modoc is open to waterfowl hunting on a walk-in, self-registration basis. Shoot days are Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. (530) 233-3572.</p> <p><a href="https://www.fws.gov/press-release/2022-08/lower-klamath-and-tule-lake-refuges-announce-2022-23-hunt-season-closure" target="_blank">Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge Complex</a><br /> The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has announced that the Tule Lake and Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuges will be closed to all public upland game bird and waterfowl hunting during the fall and winter 2022-23 hunting seasons. Beginning September 17, 2022, and continuing through March 10, 2023, the closure applies to all upland game bird seasons, the entirety of the Northeastern Zone waterfowl season, and special group waterfowl hunts, including youth, veterans and women’s hunts, and late-season duck and goose hunts. The decision to close the hunt season was based on the ongoing and severe drought conditions and the lack of available habitat, including food, water and shelter to support upland game birds and migratory water birds. For more information, please call the USFWS Hunter Hotline at (458) 232-6123.</p> <p><em><strong>CDFW Photo: </strong>Youth hunter at the Modoc National Wildlife Refuge.</em></p> <p><em>###</em></p> <p><em><strong>Media Contacts:</strong><br /> <a href="mailto:Steve.Burton@wildlife.ca.gov">Steve Burton</a>, CDFW Northern Region, (530) 340-0104<br /> <a href="mailto:peter.tira@wildlife.ca.gov">Peter Tira</a>, CDFW Communications, (916) 215-3858</em></p> CDFW Recommends “Hoot Owl” Practices for Fishing Inland Waters During Droughthttps://wildlife.ca.gov/News/Archive/cdfw-recommends-hoot-owl-practices-for-fishing-inland-waters-during-droughtWildlife HealthFri, 15 Jul 2022 12:33:42 GMTCDFW is asking recreational anglers to begin “Hoot Owl” practices when fishing – voluntarily changing how, when and where they fish to minimize stress and mortality among fish populations suffering from drought conditions.<p>The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is asking recreational anglers to begin “Hoot Owl” practices when fishing – voluntarily changing how, when and where they fish to minimize stress and mortality among fish populations suffering from drought conditions.</p> <p>“Hoot Owl” recommendations reference being active during times of day when owls can still be heard hooting. These times are typically earlier in the day when weather conditions are cooler. CDFW uses the term “Hoot Owl” to describe its guidelines for fishing during a drought which recommend fishing before noon on certain inland waters, as even catch-and-release angling during the hottest parts of the day can greatly increase fish stress and mortality.</p> <p>“California's drought cycles require all of us to work together to manage our fisheries,” said CDFW Inland Fisheries Manager Sarah Mussulman. “Multiple years of drought plus fluctuations in the timing of precipitation creates many challenges for our cold-water fish species. Anglers can play a part in lessening impacts to their favorite fishery by not fishing past noon during the hot summer months.”</p> <p>Coldwater species such as trout, salmon and steelhead have the greatest likelihood of being affected by the drought this year, but low water levels and high-water temperatures can potentially affect all inland aquatic species.</p> <p>CDFW has introduced a series of voluntary <a href="/Fishing/Inland/Hoot-Owl">“Hoot Owl” Recommendations</a> – directing anglers to focus their fishing during the cooler “hoot owl” periods of the day when water temperatures are lowest. A watchlist of specific waters anglers should fish before noon is included and will be updated as conditions change. Sustained afternoon water temperatures exceeding 67 degrees Fahrenheit for trout fisheries could trigger additions to the list.</p> <p>Currently, the list of waters include:</p> <ul> <li>Lower Owens River (Pleasant Valley Dam downstream to Five Bridges) in Mono County</li> <li>Hot Creek in Mono County</li> <li>Mill Creek (Walker Basin) in Mono County</li> <li>Lower Rush Creek (Grant Lake to Mono Lake) in Mono County</li> <li>Bridgeport Reservoir in Mono County</li> <li>Deep Creek in San Bernardino County</li> <li>Crowley Lake in Mono County</li> <li>Truckee River (Lake Tahoe to the Nevada state line) in Nevada, Placer and Sierra counties</li> <li>Upper Truckee River in El Dorado County</li> </ul> <p>As conditions change, CDFW will post the updated list on the <a href="/Fishing/Inland/Hoot-Owl">“Hoot Owl” Water</a> Watchlist page.</p> <p>Elevated water temperatures, lower oxygen levels, disease, low flows and low water levels are among the drought-related effects impacting many of California’s coastal waters and inland fisheries.</p> <p>To reduce fish stress during the drought, anglers can:</p> <ul> <li>Minimize the time you spend "fighting" the fish and any hands-on handling.</li> <li>Use rubber or coated nylon nets to protect a fish's slime layer and fins.</li> <li>Quickly remove the hook with forceps or needle-nosed pliers.</li> <li>Minimize the amount of time the fish is exposed to air, especially when the weather is warm.</li> <li>Keep your hands wet when handling the fish.</li> <li>If the fish is deeply hooked, do not pull on the line. Instead, cut the line as close as possible to where it is hooked and leave the hook so it can dissolve.</li> <li>Allow the fish to recover in the net before you release it.</li> <li>If the fish does not stay upright when you release it, gently move it back and forth.</li> <li>Avoid fighting fish from deeper, cooler waters and bringing them into warmer waters at the surface if your intention is to release them.</li> <li>Target fisheries that have stable water levels and species that are more resilient to elevated temperatures.</li> </ul> <p>CDFW suggests all anglers follow these best practices even if anglers are only interested in harvesting fish to eat. Mortality may result from non-targeted species caught and released or fish outside of legal size limits that must be returned to the water.</p> <p>###</p> <p><strong>Media Contacts:</strong><br /> <em><a href="mailto:farhat.bajjaliya@wildlife.ca.gov">Farhat Bajjaliya</a>, CDFW Fisheries Branch, (916) 215-5330<br /> <a href="mailto:leticia.palamidessi@wildlife.ca.gov">Leticia Palamidessi</a>, CDFW Communications, (916) 708-8517</em></p> <p><em><strong>Photo:</strong> Fishing at day break.<br /> Delmas Lehman/<a href="http://stock.adobe.com" target="_blank">stock.adobe.com</a></em>  </p> CDFW Trucks Salmon Smolts Around Adverse River Conditionshttps://wildlife.ca.gov/News/Archive/cdfw-trucks-salmon-smolts-around-adverse-river-conditionsSalmonFri, 17 Jun 2022 09:27:43 GMTThe California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is nearing the completion of its efforts to transport 19.7 million hatchery-raised fall-run and 960,000 spring-run juvenile Chinook salmon (known as smolts) to the San Pablo Bay, San Francisco Bay and seaside net pens this spring and summer.<p>The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is nearing the completion of its efforts to transport 19.7 million hatchery-raised fall-run and 960,000 spring-run juvenile Chinook salmon (known as smolts) to the San Pablo Bay, San Francisco Bay and seaside net pens this spring and summer.</p> <p>CDFW raises the fish at Feather River, Nimbus, Mokelumne and Merced salmon hatcheries and monitors river conditions carefully to estimate the smolts’ chances of successful migration. During times of drought, low flows and elevated water temperatures can be a lethal mixture for the young salmon. This year, conditions are expected to be particularly poor, prompting CDFW to move more than 95 percent of the smolts down river, thus bypassing 50 to 100 miles of hazardous river conditions.</p> <p><img alt="A silver CDFW fish stocking tanker truck is parked in front of the Golden Gate Bridge at night, with lights from the bridge reflecting off of the truck." src="/Portals/0/Images/OCEO/News/SmoltTruck_resized.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 5px;" /></p> <p>“Three consecutive years of drought have resulted in critically low reservoir water storage, low river flows and poor river conditions overall, which we know decreases the survival of juvenile Chinook salmon as they move downstream toward the Pacific Ocean,” said Jason Julienne, CDFW’s North Central Region hatchery supervisor. “In years like this, when drought conditions are bad and anticipated in-river survival is low, trucking young salmon to downstream release sites has proven to be one of the best ways to increase overall survival of hatchery produced fish to contribute to adult returns in the coming years.”</p> <p>To increase survival rates, multiple release sites and release methods are used. In some locations, the fish are released directly into the water by specialized fish-hauling tanker trucks. At others, the smolts are released into net pens, which are then towed out to deeper waters before being released. Releases can happen during daylight hours or at night. CDFW fisheries biologists and salmon hatchery managers tailor these methods according to tide conditions, temperatures and the presences of potential predators at each site.</p> <p>Prior to each release, approximately 25 percent of the smolts have their adipose fin removed and are fitted with a coded wire tag the size of a small pencil lead in its nose. When the fish are caught later, CDFW staff can use the tag information to determine when, where and from which hatchery the fish came. CDFW fish counters check both commercial and sport catch to secure tags and retrieve this information, which helps determine the success rate of each batch of fish released.</p> <p>“The trucking of these salmon smolts helps ensure both sport and commercial anglers of salmon in the future,” said John McManus, president of the Golden Gate Salmon Association. “CDFW staff has gone above and beyond in their willingness to move the release sites further west, which means we'll see much better survival for those fish released closer to the ocean. This is greatly helping to keep the salmon industry afloat as we suffer through drought.”</p> <p>The releases began in March and are scheduled to conclude by June 23. One of the last releases will happen over the weekend at Brickyard Cove in Richmond on Sunday, June 19 at 8:45 p.m. The Golden State Salmon Association and the City of Richmond will assist with the release of approximately 200,000 smolts at this site. Media are welcome; please contact Ken Paglia at (916) 825-7120 for details and directions. The city will require attendees to sign a waiver in advance.</p> <p>###</p> <p><em><strong>Media Contacts:</strong><br /> <a href="mailto:Jason.Julienne@wildlife.ca.gov">Jason Julienne</a>, CDFW North Central Region, (916) 496-4985<br /> <a href="mailto:Ken.Paglia@wildlife.ca.gov">Ken Paglia</a>, CDFW Communications, (916) 825-7120<br /> <a href="mailto:Harry.Morse@wildlife.ca.gov">Harry Morse</a>, CDFW Communications, (208) 220-1169</em></p>