American River, CA – Following the opening of the Nimbus Hatchery fish ladder last week, California Department of Fish and Wildlife staff started spawning fall-run Chinook salmon on Monday, November 10. On that day, crews processed 146 adults and collected 423,360 fertilized eggs.

These eggs will hatch in late December. The resulting fish will rear at the facility and be released as smolts next spring to support American River salmon returns.

Spawning of fall-run Chinook continues through mid-December. Steelhead trout spawning will follow, running from late December into February.