Thursday September 17, 2026
CDWR —
Throughout California’s Central Valley, Chinook salmon and steelhead trout migrate between the ocean and inland rivers to spawn during their lifecycles. Ahead of the fall spawning season, DWR completed a salmonid habitat improvement project in the low-flow channel of the Feather River in Oroville, placing approximately 8,000 cubic yards of spawning gravel between the Table Mountain Bridge and Bedrock Park.
“Oroville Dam blocks the upstream passage of some fish to their natural spawning habitat and prevents the migration of gravel that would naturally flow downstream,” said Kassie Henley, senior environmental scientist with DWR’s Feather River program. “Through gravel restoration projects, DWR supports fish that use the Feather River for this critical phase of their lives. The gravel is placed in July and August ahead of when Chinook salmon and steelhead spawn to avoid impacts to eggs.”
Female Chinook salmon use their tails to dig redds, clusters of bright red fertilized eggs, which are buried in gravel beds. The eggs then hatch within the gravel into alevin, the first lifecycle stage of a new salmon. For gravel supplementation projects, DWR selects gravel that is an ideal size for spawning activities. Rocks that are too large are difficult for fish to move, while those that are too small can suffocate the eggs.