In a bold step to future-proof California’s fisheries, Governor Gavin Newsom has unveiled plans to modernize 21 state-operated fish hatcheries, aiming to rebuild declining salmon and trout populations threatened by climate change. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) will lead the $15 million initiative, focusing on sustainability, biodiversity, and the long-term health of the state’s fishing industry.
“These hatcheries are critical to the future of salmon in California,” said Governor Newsom. “They represent not only our state’s ecological heritage but also a vital economic and cultural resource. We must act now to protect them.”
Known as the Climate Induced Hatcheries Upgrade Project, the effort targets the growing environmental stressors that have disrupted hatchery operations across the state—such as drought, extreme heat, and increasing disease outbreaks. Some facilities have already faced shutdowns and emergency fish evacuations due to infrastructure failures.
With funding secured through emergency drought relief in 2021, the project began with expert assessments of each hatchery’s infrastructure, water systems, and operational challenges. The resulting tailored upgrade plans are designed to equip each facility for climate resilience over the next 40 years.
Planned upgrades include:
- Replacement of outdated water and plumbing systems
- Installation of modern fish-rearing tanks and filtration systems
- Enhanced temperature control to safeguard fish health
- Reduced water use and improved disease management
Many of California’s hatcheries are more than 80 years old, making modernization a high priority.
“This is about keeping our hatcheries operational and effective as the climate shifts,” said CDFW Director Charlton H. Bonham. “Our communities and ecosystems depend on it.”
Jay Rowan, Chief of CDFW’s Fisheries Branch, added that the effort is a key part of the California Salmon Strategy for a Hotter, Drier Future, which outlines science-based actions to protect and recover salmon statewide.
This hatchery investment builds on broader salmon recovery efforts, including last year’s $50 million in habitat restoration grants and the historic return of salmon to the Klamath River following major dam removals. These steps mark a coordinated, statewide push to secure the future of California’s fisheries in an era of climate uncertainty.
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