Salmon Count High At Moke Fish Hatchery

Mokelumne hatchery photo by CDFW

The Stockton Record has a story this week about a lot of salmon being spotted at the Mokelumne River Fish Hatchery. 

Here’s a little more about the fish count from Recordnet.com:

The count over Woodbridge Dam on the Mokelumne to date is 16,300 salmon, including 5,654 jacks, according to William Smith, hatchery manager. A record number of fall-run Chinook salmon, 19,954, went over Woodbridge Dam in the fall of 2017, the highest number since 1940. The season ends on the rivers on December 16.

When I visited the hatchery on November 29, the river and hatchery were plugged with salmon ready for spawning.

“With so many threats facing fish, strong returns confirm the health of the Mokelumne River, making this a welcoming home where salmon can survive and thrive,” said Jose Setka, EBMUD manager of Fisheries and Wildlife.