A fall-run Chinook salmon travels up the fish ladder near California Department of Water Resources infrastructure in Oroville. Image: Andrew Nixon and the California Department of Water Resources A fish ladder is a structure in a natural or artificial waterway that allows fish to pass to a destination, like the ocean or spawning grounds. The […]| California Sportfishing Protection Alliance
In late August, I gave California Trout’s 2025 Eel River Pikeminnow Fishing Derby a shot. Sadly, I did not win the Derby. But I did come across a number of conditions that got me thinking about rearing juvenile salmonids. For starters, I caught and observed large Sacramento pikeminnow that appeared to be feeding very well […]| California Sportfishing Protection Alliance
The Hydropower Reform Coalition (HRC) has been advocating since the early 1990s for improved conditions in waters affected by hydroelectric projects. HRC advocacy has increased streamflows and made flow information public, achieved new and improved river access, and supported local communities where hydropower dams and other components of infrastructure are located. The California Sportfishing Protection […]| California Sportfishing Protection Alliance
The trailer bill legislation proposed by the Newsom Administration to fast-track approval and construction of a tunnel under the Bay-Delta estuary ended for the year when it did not come to the floor of either house in the state legislature by September 12. See earlier analysis here. This is a victory for people, wildlife, and […]| California Sportfishing Protection Alliance
California’s fall 2025 recreational ocean salmon fishery was a success, with 12,000 Chinook salmon taken by 12,400 anglers in four days of fishing. The weather conditions were excellent, which adde…| California Sportfishing Protection Alliance
CSPA is conserving, restoring, and enhancing California's water quality, fisheries, and aquatic habitats since 1983| California Sportfishing Protection Alliance
This September marks the first time in two years that there will be a fall ocean salmon recreational fishery. The fall ocean salmon fishery will take place from September 4 through September 7 in waters between Point Reyes and Point Sur, with a total harvest guideline of 7,500 Chinook salmon. Each angler can take a […]| California Sportfishing Protection Alliance
The Delta Conveyance Project (DCP) hearing continues this month, scheduled for September 2, 5, 11, 15, 18, 19, 22, 29 and 30. Hearing dates are also scheduled for October 1, 6, 9, 10, 14, & 15. Additional proposed, but not confirmed, hearing dates are September 23 and October 20, 23, 27, 28, and 29. The […]| California Sportfishing Protection Alliance
Now that four dams previously blocking anadromous fish migration on the Klamath River are down, state and local agencies are negotiating the next stage of river restoration. They are acting to regulate the beneficial uses of water in overallocated Klamath River tributaries as equitably as possible. The Shasta River historically produced more salmon per unit […]| California Sportfishing Protection Alliance
As an environmental policy consultant for CSPA, I spend a portion of my time visiting fly fishing clubs to recruit club memberships. I’ve found that participating in club casting clinics is a great…| California Sportfishing Protection Alliance
Nonprofits’ research projects on fish serve multiple purposes. They serve an impetus to improve restoration efforts and manage hatcheries better. They make a case for reintroducing species in areas where the species had a historical presence. And they draw funding, volunteers, allies, and media attention. When nonprofits undertake research projects on fish, their results can […]| California Sportfishing Protection Alliance
Since dam construction in the early 1900s, Central Valley Chinook salmon have been cut off from their historical spawning and rearing habitat in the upper Feather River watershed. Spring-run Chinoo…| California Sportfishing Protection Alliance
In July 2025, 34 parties who protested issuing water rights for the proposed tunnel under California’s Bay-Delta estuary filed testimony in opposition to the project. The filing of the protestants’…| California Sportfishing Protection Alliance
On July 11, 2025, after a month floating the free-flowing Klamath River 310 miles, a group of indigenous youth arrived at the river’s mouth. Theirs was the first expedition to boat the river from s…| California Sportfishing Protection Alliance
On July 24, 2025, State Water Board staff released an “updated” version of a proposed Bay-Delta Plan. The updated Plan is very clear: it is going to give the water users and the Newsom admini…| California Sportfishing Protection Alliance
Homelessness encampments affect fish populations in three primary ways: pollution of the waterway and nearby areas, like river banks physical modification of the waterway and nearby areas, through …| California Sportfishing Protection Alliance
1. Prevent and reduce homelessness and housing insecurity: Find housing for the people who want it and will remain housed. This includes offering safe parking spaces with bathrooms and securi…| California Sportfishing Protection Alliance
Across California, encampments of people who experience homelessness negatively affect fish populations in multiple ways. The long list of concerns includes poaching fish, cutting down trees above …| California Sportfishing Protection Alliance
In May 2025, the final iteration of the Battle Creek Salmon and Steelhead Restoration Project launched. The launch follows years of delay and changing priorities in the wake of Pacific Gas & El…| California Sportfishing Protection Alliance
During the 2024-2025 fall run, 35,450 adult Chinook salmon returned to the Lower Mokelumne River to spawn. This broke the previous 2023-24 season’s record of 28,698. The combination of successful a…| California Sportfishing Protection Alliance
Delta smelt survey boat in the Sacramento Delta in 2010, when survey boats were still capturing Delta smelt. Credit: Peter Johnsen, USFWS Last month, the California Department of Water Rights (DWR)…| California Sportfishing Protection Alliance
Bill if Passed Would Fast-Track Delta Tunnel and Eliminate Deadlines to Use Water On May 14, 2025, the Newsom Administration proposed two “trailer bills” in the State Legislature that would create …| California Sportfishing Protection Alliance
