Producer's Journal: Salmon are back again in the Yuba River, but how many will return?

Posted by Catherine Stifter

October 17, 2008

I spent a few hours in a raft yesterday with a smile on my face, put there by a fish.

It was a big smile because I saw more Chinook salmon than any other time I've been out looking for them over the past 3 years.  They made it back from the ocean, up the delta, and over Daguerre Point Dam to lay and fertilize eggs in the gravels of the lower Yuba.  I was surprised to see so many this early.  But I realize this is no indicator of whether we will have a high return this year or another low return, like last year's dismal count of about 2600. Predictions point to a low year. But we'll see.

The local Maidus have been Calling Back the Salmon for 3 years now.  They say we humans will need to make ourselves ready for their return. Perhaps we are not there yet. 

I was part of a float trip orientation for new folks who will be guiding SYRCL's Salmon Raft Trips over the next few weeks.  And I watched more than a few of them smiling at fish, too. We saw perhaps 2 dozen live salmon working their reds (nests) on a fabulously warm Fall day that only added to the satisfaction of our discovery.  Among our group were SYRCL's Yuba Strategy Manager and Americorps members, Environmental Traveling Companions and OARS river guides; a great combo of naturalists and experiential educators who were learning more about the salmon life cycle, breeding habitat on the lower Yuba, and about the recent and future collaborations between environmental groups, business and community leaders who all agree on one thing: we want more fish to find their way back to spawning grounds on this river.

Call (415) 474-7662 to sign up for one of the public salmon raft trips this fall, guided by ETC with SYRCL river, salmon and habitat experts. Trips on are Saturdays: November 1, 8, 15.

Read the resolution for understanding, healing and action put forth by the Calling Back the Salmon Committee.

Read the press release about the most recent habitat restoration collaboration between SYRCL and Western Aggregates.

Read a Smithsonian Magazine article about why the Chinook (King) salmon have such a hard time making it back to spawn.