Friday April 24, 2026
San Francisco Water Power Sewer —
Chinook salmon returned to two Bay Area creeks this winter for the first time in decades. Steelhead trout populations are booming on those same two waterways. And the lower Tuolumne River is once again a thriving fish hangout.
It has been a good year for fish and other native species in waters the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) helps manage.
The rebounding fish populations come as the SFPUC has worked diligently with other river partners – often for years – to remove man-made barriers to fish migration, restore natural spawning habitat, and strategically increase water releases from reservoirs to mimic natural river flows.
“This represents a lot of hard work by a lot of people. It’s paying off,” said SFPUC General Manager Dennis Herrera. “Together, we’re doing the work to protect and support native fish populations on the waterways we have a hand in managing. There’s more to come. On the Tuolumne River alone, we’re committed to not only providing more water for the river, but also significantly investing in restoring habitat through our proposed Healthy Rivers and Landscapes Program. As we mark Earth Day, it’s a reminder that healthy environments, clean energy, and healthy communities are all connected.”