Thursday July 24, 2025
KOBI —
In a historic milestone for conservation, adult winter-run chinook salmon have been spotted in the McCloud river for the first time in nearly 100 years.
California Fish and Wildlife confirmed sightings near Ash Camp in Shasta County including a female salmon guarding her nest, signs of successful spawning.
These fish are likely part of a multi-agency effort launched in 2022 to return the endangered species to their native habitat above Shasta Dam.
Most fish are caught and transported down below the dam allowing them to reach the ocean, but some are inevitably missed.
“It’s just perfect, ideal salmon habitat.” Peter Tira with CDFW tells NBC5 News. “You can’t draw it up any better. I mean this is their historic habitat, it’s ideal for spawning and rearing.”
The McCloud is cool, it’s cold. It’s clear it’s clean.
There’s more good news as adult salmon were also seen in Battle Creek marking another first in decades.
CDFW will be at the McCloud River this Saturday stocking more winter run chinook eggs to hatch and grow this summer.