OROVILLE, Calif. (AP) - Almost 1 million spring-run Chinook salmon were released to the Feather River after they’d been evacuated from a hatchery downstream from a Northern California spillway that started crumbling, officials said.
Last month, 5 million salmon were evacuated from the Feather River Hatchery near the Oroville Dam after the water became murky with sediment from the damaged spillway, the Department of Fish and Wildlife said.
Officials said they anticipate high flows in the Feather River due to rain and water releases from the dam.
“Releasing these fish now should allow them to imprint on Feather River water and move downstream before flows drop back down to normal levels,” the department said, adding the release was done with the help of officials from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Central Valley spring-run Chinook, also known as king salmon, are a state and federally listed threatened species whose numbers have declined considerably during the recent drought.
Another million spring-run Chinook and three million fall-run Chinook remain at the annex hatchery and more fish releases are planned over the coming weeks.
“Today’s fish release marks the success of federal and state agencies coordinating and managing valuable resources while ensuring public safety during a crisis situation,” said Howard Brown, NOAA Sacramento River Basin Branch chief.
The largest hatchery in the state, the Feather River Hatchery is owned and operated by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the only facility that raises Central Valley spring-run Chinook.
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