Sonoma County Hatchery Coho Salmon Relocated to Avoid Heat Stress
Some 4,000 California hatchery juvenile coho salmon were relocated from the Warm Springs Fish Hatchery at Geyserville in July and August to a conservation facility at a high school in Petaluma for rearing until conditions improve.
A spokesperson for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife said on Aug. 23 that they are hopeful that drought and poor water conditions at Lake Sonoma will improve enough to allow them to truck the fish back to the hatchery before year’s end.
Beginning in late spring, rising water temperatures at Warm Springs Hatchery increased the risk of heat stress and pathogen outbreaks. Scientists developed the relocation plan as a precaution to keep the hatchery coho safe.
CDFW acting regional manager Stacy Sherman said the agency has a vested interest in seeing...