Salmon-spawning season begins

The U.S. Department of Fish and Game released its first batch of eggs at Oroville’s Feather River Hatchery earlier this month, marking the beginning of the annual statewide effort to spawn returning fall chinook salmon in the Sacramento River, according to a DFG press release.

Throughout October and November, workers will release nearly 12 million eggs into the hatchery, which will produce an estimated 10 million salmon for release next spring. Spawning operations also will be launched at the state-run Mokelumne and Nimbus hatcheries in October and November, respectively. The three hatcheries are expected to produce more than 20 million young salmon for release into the Sacramento River by next year.

Spawning operations also will be launched at other state- and federally run hatcheries. These efforts are expected to result in the release of 40 million salmon into California’s waters.