The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is upgrading 21 fish hatcheries to boost the state’s salmon and trout populations. Courtesy photo 

SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) - Governor Gavin Newsom announced on May 8 that the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is upgrading 21 fish hatcheries to boost the state’s salmon and trout populations and protect hatcheries from the impacts of climate change.

 The project helps build the California salmon and trout supply, which are central to the health of California’s biodiversity but also Indigenous peoples, communities and the state’s multimillion-dollar fishing industry.

“Our salmon populations are not only an important part of our state’s biodiversity but a rich component of our history and heritage. We have a responsibility to prepare for the future, protect the ecosystems, and people whose well-being are connected to the continued success of these important species,” said Governor Newsom.

Over the past decade, state-operated hatcheries have experienced a host of climate-driven impacts, including reduced cold-water availability, increased disease outbreaks, emergency fish evacuations due to extreme weather events and wildfire threats, which caused temporary facility closures. These issues have strained hatchery operations and threaten the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s ability to meet its fish production goals, including those for federally and state listed species.

The “Climate Induced Hatcheries Upgrade Project” was first funded with $15 million in emergency drought funding in 2021. Since that funding was allocated, Department of Fish and Wildlife has been working with leading hatchery and hydrology consultants to identify specific concerns regarding water quality and quantity, fish rearing and water supply infrastructure and operational inefficiencies at the hatcheries. Consultants developed individual reports for each hatchery with recommendations and changes needed to address climate issues and provide reliable operations for the next 40 or more years.

“As climate disruption continues to reshape California’s landscape, Department of Fish and Wildlife is committed to innovative action to support our state’s fisheries and the communities that depend on them,” said Department of Fish and Wildlife Director Charlton H. Bonham. “The Climate Induced Hatcheries Upgrade Project is a roadmap to ensure that our state-operated hatcheries can meet the challenges of the future while promoting ecological health and economic vitality.”

Jay Rowan, Department of Fish and Wildlife Fisheries branch chief said, “Department of Fish and Wildlife recognizes the important role our hatcheries play in species conservation and providing commercial and recreational fishing opportunities for Californians. Our hatcheries are on the front lines experiencing some of these rather dramatic changes in the environment that are impacting our operations. These upgrades and modernization efforts are key elements of the California Salmon Strategy for a hotter, drier future.”

The Climate Induced Hatcheries Upgrade Project included a thorough assessment of each hatchery’s water supply, fish-rearing infrastructure and operational efficiency.

Key findings and proposed upgrades include resilient infrastructure; replacement of aging plumbing and valving systems to prevent costly emergency repairs and ensure reliable operations into the future. Many state-operated hatcheries are more than 80 years old.

Iimplementation of partial recirculating aquaculture systems, water treatment and temperature management systems will reduce water demand and improve efficiency, while reducing pathogens that can cause disease.

Integration of advanced control systems and passive energy generation will minimize water use, operational costs and environmental impacts.

Infrastructure upgrades tailored to withstand more extreme climate events are projected over the next 20 to 40 years, ensuring production remains sustainable.

Governor Newsom has worked with tribes, communities and industry partners to help build and protect the state’s vital salmon populations. Last year, Governor Newsom announced California’s first strategy to protect the iconic fish species for generations to come through the California Salmon Strategy for a Hotter Drier Future. In March 2024, Governor Newsom distributed $50 million in grants to support a diverse array of habitat restoration projects in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, McCloud River, and wetland and meadow projects statewide. And in August, as a result of the administration’s Klamath Restoration Project, a collaboration between local, state and tribal partners, fish began swimming freely again in the Klamath River for the first time in more than 100 years.