High releases into the Mokelumne River from Camanche Dam (pictured) Daily KosIn welcome good news for Central Valley salmon populations, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) today reported record fall spawning returns of Chinook salmon and steelhead to the Mokelumne River, a tributary of the San Joaquin River.
The Mokelumne River Fish Hatchery in Clements has received 13,799 adult salmon—compared to 4,129 at this point last year—and is on track to break the 2011 historic record return of 18,000.
For the second consecutive year, the Mokelumne Hatchery has counted a record number of steelhead. In dramatic contrast to historical returns averaging about 100 steelhead per year, more than 350 steelhead already have entered the hatchery in 2017. This follows last year’s record return of about 600 steelhead.
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