Spawning of fall-run Chinook salmon

Spawning of fall-run Chinook salmon began today at the Nimbus Fish Hatchery in Sacramento County where CDFW’s Nimbus staff have been tasked with producing 4.5 million salmon smolts this year – which includes 500,000 additional fish – to combat effects of the drought. Nimbus features a new, $9 million fish ladder that improves hatchery efficiency and safety while opening up additional river access to natural spawning by salmon and steelhead. The new fish ladder also improves the visitor experience with underwater viewing windows and other features. While the Nimbus Fish Hatchery’s facilities are still closed to the public due to COVID-19, the lower portion of the fish ladder is open to public access. Visitors will also notice new outdoor gathering spaces, interpretive signage and public art around the Nimbus facility to enjoy the American River and learn about the anadromous fish that rely on it. Additional virtual opportunities and resources are available at CDFW’s Learning webpage: https://wildlife.ca.gov/Learning.