California is putting serious capital behind its “Salmon Strategy for a Hotter, Drier Future.” The state just announced a massive $71 million investment specifically targeted at salmon and steelhead recovery projects.
This funding is part of a larger $87 million conservation package approved by the California Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB), designed to restore river systems and support declining fish populations.
Where is the money going?
The grants are spread across 16 projects, with a few major initiatives taking the lion’s share:
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Feather River ($32M): The Sutter Butte Flood Control Agency will use this grant to restore a mile of the river, reconnecting 51 acres of floodplain to create vital habitat.
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Battle Creek ($15M): River Partners will acquire over 1,700 acres to protect crucial spawning and rearing grounds.
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Sacramento River ($15M): Meridian Farms Water Company will replace unscreened water diversions with a single, screened diversion to help Chinook salmon pass safely – a project 20 years in the making.
The Bottom Line
“Recovering salmon runs in the Central Valley will take bold, coordinated investment,” says CDFW Director Charlton H. Bonham. These projects aim to do just that by putting resources directly into the habitats that need them most.
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