Celebrate the "Summerween" Festivities alongside Salmon

California's Fall-Run Chinook salmon are making their annual journey back from the ocean to the rivers of the Central Valley, a critical time of year that is also a red flag for their declining population. Historically, these salmon have served as a primary food source for the endangered Southern Resident orcas and are an important part of California's heritage, a cultural resource for Native American Tribes, and a $1.4 billion commercial fishing industry.

In recent years, Fall-Run salmon have severely declined, with over 90% on some tributaries like the Sacramento River. This decline is a concern not only for the salmon themselves but also for the clean and safe water supply for Californians, as protecting salmon means protecting a clean and safe water supply.

To address this issue, conservation efforts are underway in California's rivers and estuaries. These efforts include a combination of fishing regulations, habitat restoration, dam removals, experimental hatchery programs, and floodplain reconnection projects.

Fishing regulations are in place to protect spawning fish. The California Fish and Game Commission adopted 2025 fishing rules that include closures to the take and possession of Fall-Run Chinook salmon in parts of the Sacramento River, American River, and Feather River during spawning seasons.

Habitat restoration and dam removal are also key components of the conservation strategy. The removal of four dams on the Klamath River in October 2024 opened approximately 420 miles of new salmon habitat. Early signs show Fall-Run Chinook salmon recolonizing these restored areas, aided by hatchery production efforts such as those at Fall Creek Hatchery. In Battle Creek, agreements between state, federal, and private entities aim to remove infrastructure to restore volitional fish passage and expand habitat for all Chinook runs, including Fall-Run.

Experimental hatchery and reintroduction programs are also being used to support the recovery of Fall-Run Chinook salmon populations. The San Joaquin River Restoration Program is experimenting with releasing hatchery-run spring-run Chinook salmon, which have also benefited Fall-Run populations by finding suitable habitats on the Tuolumne River with improved flow and temperature conditions managed by local water districts.

Floodplain reconnection and experimental habitat projects are another important part of the conservation efforts. Projects like the Nigiri Project flood juvenile hatchery salmon through flooded rice fields in the Yolo Bypass, where enhanced nutrients and reduced predators accelerate growth. This approach aims to restore access to historical floodplain habitats, currently made inaccessible by levee systems, benefiting Fall-Run Chinook salmon in the Sacramento Valley.

By reducing personal water usage, encouraging local, sustainable water solutions like water reuse and improved groundwater recharge, and discussing with elected officials about reducing large corporate agricultural water use in California and supporting an equitable transition for Central Valley economies facing "climate-whiplash", we can all play a part in protecting these vital species and ensuring a clean and safe water supply for Californians.

It's important to remember that salmon struggle to spawn or survive in temperatures higher than 53.5 degrees Fahrenheit, and that historically, most of the water in California rivers has been allocated to corporate agriculture, leaving rivers low and hot during late summer. As animals consume salmon, they spread the nitrogen from the fish throughout the watershed, contributing significantly to the nitrogen content of wine grapes, with 18% to 25% of nitrogen in Mokelumne river wine grapes being of "marine origin".

The removal of the historic Klamath dams has shown that when conditions improve, salmon populations can recover. The decaying salmon carcasses provide essential nutrients for forest and river ecosystems, making it clear that the survival and sustainability of Fall-Run Chinook salmon are intertwined with the health of California's rivers and ecosystems.

References:

California Fish and Game Commission. (2025). 2025 fishing rules for Fall-Run Chinook salmon. Retrieved from https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/conservation/marine/salmon/regulations
San Joaquin River Restoration Program. (2021). Spring-run Chinook salmon reintroduction. Retrieved from https://www.sjrrp.org/spring-run-chinook-salmon-reintroduction
California Department of Fish and Wildlife. (2022). Klamath River dam removal and Fall Creek Hatchery. Retrieved from https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/regions/2/klamath-river-dam-removal-and-fall-creek-hatchery
Nigiri Project. (2022). Flooding rice fields for salmon. Retrieved from https://www.nigiriproject.org/
Battle Creek Restoration Project. (2022). Restoring Battle Creek for salmon. Retrieved from https://www.battlecreekrestoration.org/
To further promote sustainable living and protect Fall-Run Chinook salmon, one can opt for home-and-garden practices that reduce water usage, such as installing drought-resistant plants, implementing rainwater collection systems, and maintaining efficient irrigation systems.
In alignment with California's environmental-science conservation goals, it's crucial to engage in discussions with elected officials about implementing sustainable farming practices in the agriculture industry by supporting measures like water reuse, improved groundwater recharge, and reducing corporate agricultural water use.
By adopting a lifestyle that emphasizes the importance of "sustainable-living" principles, one can contribute positively to the health of California's rivers and ecosystems, ensuring a prosperous future not only for Fall-Run Chinook salmon but also for their cultural and economic significance to the state's residents and Native American Tribes.