2022 Year End

Here are some highlights of what we did for you last year.  You can check out a more comprehensive list of accomplishments here.  

After GSSA shared documentation with the state demonstrating superior survival of hatchery fish released closer to the ocean, the state largely embraced this approach.  Millions of fish were released in Sausalito, San Rafael, Half Moon Bay and Richmond.  All of these enjoy a much, much, better chance of surviving to adulthood compared to salmon released at the traditional Vallejo release site. 

GSSA worked to get young people involved and we think they’ll remember these experiences for life.  We got fourboat loads of inner-city kids out to catch salmon and learn about the incredible nature in their own backyards.  We got another boatload out to witness the first ever release of hatchery salmon smolts in Richmond, a release GSSA had a central hand in arranging.

GSSA forged a partnership with the US Fish and Wildlife Service to produce and experimentally release an additional two million fry from the Coleman Hatchery in early 2022.  FWS will release another two million in 2023. This work included the use of state-of-the-art parent-based DNA tagging to assess success. CDFW took notice and decided to copy this with a fry release of their own from the Nimbus hatchery in 2023.  There’s a good chance that this will be expanded to the Feather River hatchery as well.  Fry releases hold the promise of boosting salmon numbers by hatching more eggs and then releasing the baby salmon during periods of peak winter flow when survival conditions are best.  Read more about it here.

After long and loud advocacy by GSSA and others, certain agricultural water districts with senior water rights in the Sacramento Valley gave up more water in 2022 than ever before to keep river temperatures for salmon down. 

After GSSA and others pointed out the extreme dangers the proposed Sites Reservoir posed to salmon and the legal and biological need to make it more environmentally friendly, the proposed reservoir was significantly scaled back. 

Be part of GSSA and help Golden State salmon

With your help, we’re giving voice to conservation minded salmon fishermen and women throughout California, as well as those who appreciate the environmental benefits salmon restoration brings to a multitude of native species. Feel free to geek out on GSSA’s efforts by reading more details of our salmon rebuilding plan and other actions here.