Thursday February 26, 2026
Western Outdoor News —
Finding solutions to complex problems often requires a different level of creativity, and the continued decline of California’s salmon populations has required thinking ‘outside the box.’ A unique group of partners consisting of fishermen, farmers, scientists, and water managers have been putting their heads together to develop an action plan in the attempt to restore salmon. The Nor-Cal Guides and Sportsmen’s Association (NCGASA), Golden Gate Fishermen’s Association (GFFA), Pacific Coast Federation of Fisherman’s Association, California Rice, Northern California Water Association, and Sacramento River Settlement Contractors have formed a collaborative working group to form the Northern California Fishing and Farming Bridge Group.
Captain James Smith of California Dawn Sport Fishing and the GFFA has been a member of the group since its inception, and he is extremely enthusiastic about transitioning the ‘farmers vs. fishermen’ scenario from one of conflict to one of cooperation. The group recently was the catalyst for a release of 1.8 million salmon fry from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife’s Coleman Hatchery into winter-flooded rice fields near Sacramento. According to the Bridge Group’s press release, research from UC Davis ‘demonstrates how rice fields provide vital ecological benefits by mimicking historical floodplain environments young salmon once relied upon while migrating to the ocean. Simply put, salmon feeding on zooplankton in intentionally flooded farm fields bulk up – often growing two to five times faster than in rivers, giving them the size and strength needed to improve their chance of reaching the Pacific Ocean.”