A Century Later, Native Salmon Returns

For the first time in nearly a century, Chinook salmon have returned to a river in northern California.

“If we can develop this pilot effort into a full reintroduction program, we would be able to more than double the amount of available salmon habitat in the Yuba River watershed. And that’s a huge win for spring-run Chinook salmon,” says Colin Purdy, fisheries environmental program manager for the Fish and Wildlife Department’s North Central Region.

A restoration project and study for California’s North Yuba River began several months ago to return Chinook salmon to their native spawning habitat. Many other restoration projects are also underway in California, including the removal of some dams, which oftentimes trap fish from being able to continue their migration journeys. Before the study, Chinook salmon hadn’t been seen in the river’s waters since the construction of the Englebright Dam in 1941, which blocks them from reaching necessary calmer waters in the summertime heat. Though the current pilot project has reintroduced the species to the area, its long-term success remains uncertain as some dams remain, and advocates urge more to recreate safe and natural habitats for these fish.