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Thursday October 10, 2024

The Cool Down

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation is working with key partners to do important restoration work that will support two struggling fish species on California’s American River.

The federal agency announced via a September 2024 news release that it would be starting a restoration project near the confluence of the American and Sacramento rivers that will increase the productivity of fall-run Chinook salmon and steelhead, two species that swim from the river to the Pacific Ocean and back again.

Part of the project includes adding 6,800 cubic yards of gravel to the riverbed, enabling female salmon to create nests where they can deposit their eggs. In order to help juvenile salmon survive once they hatch, crews will also be adding geographic elements to shield the young fish from strong currents and predators while boosting the available food supply.

“We are realistic about the projects we build,” said Erica Bishop, program manager for habitat and science with the Water Forum, one of the bureau’s partners on the endeavor. 

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