Spawning Gravel Infusion Projects
Fish, like the Chinook salmon, rely on shallow rock beds for spawning and egg incubation. This critical habitat has been reduced over time due to water flows pushing gravel downstream paired with less debris entering the river in key spawning sites. SRSC works to replenish these habitats in the upper reaches of the Sacramento River.
Summer 2024 //
Keswick Gravel Injection
Continuing efforts to provide spawning habitat improvements for the endangered Winter-run Chinook salmon, the Sacramento River Settlement Contractors and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation placed 20,000 tons of spawning gravel at the Keswick Dam Gravel Injection site. The spawning habitat has been reduced over time in this section of the river due to water flows pushing the gravel downstream. 45,000 tons of gravel has been placed in this section of river since April of 2022. Watch Video >
Fall 2023
Salt Creek Spawning Gravel Habitat Infusion
More than 21,000 tons of gravel was placed into the Sacramento River to provide spawning habitat for salmon and trout in the upper reaches of the river and its tributaries. Spawning habitat has been reduced over time due to water flows pushing gravel downstream. Spanning approximately 200 feet by 80 feet, the new gravel aims to replenish supply in an important historic spawning location near Salt Creek – about a mile south of the Keswick Dam.
Winter 2023
Market Street Infusion
Approximately 8,000 tons of gravel – enough to cover the equivalent of 10 football fields – was placed in the Sacramento River to create spawning sites for the endangered winter-run Chinook salmon. The project was a continuing effort to help meet requirements under the Central Valley Project Improvement Act, which was created to restore and replenish spawning gravel and rearing habitat for salmonid species.
Painter’s Riffle Anadromous Fish Habitat Enhancement
The Golden State Salmon Association met with Federal and State agencies and proposed the Painter’s Riffle Anadromous Fish Habitat Enhancement Project as a priority for implementation in 2013 and 2014. GCID funded the project and acted as the Lead Agency under the California Environmental Quality Act.
GSSA estimates that Painter’s Riffle was successful for a number of years in producing 100 to 200 additional redds in this attractive spawning area below Keswick Dam.