Nearly 500,000 Chinook Salmon Fry Released Into the Sacramento River

Nearly half a million young Chinook salmon are now on the move in the upper Sacramento River.

Last Friday, Coleman National Fish Hatchery released approximately 480,000 fall-run Chinook fry into the Sacramento River, marking the start of a busy spring migration period for juvenile salmon.

The release is part of a series of fry stockings scheduled over the coming weeks, timed to coincide with natural salmon movement patterns. As river conditions improve and flows increase, young salmon use the Sacramento River as a critical nursery—feeding, growing, and slowly making their way downstream toward the Delta and, eventually, the Pacific Ocean.

This year’s releases come with added urgency. Hatchery staff report they’ve nearly doubled the number of juvenile fish on station compared to previous years, pushing raceway space to its limits. As fry grow, crowding can lead to slower growth, stress, and a higher risk of disease—making timely releases essential for fish health and survival.

While these newly released fry are still months away from saltwater, their journey has officially begun. Each release represents a small but important boost to California’s salmon population and ongoing efforts to support fisheries impacted by drought, habitat loss, and changing river conditions.

More fry releases are expected throughout the season as the Sacramento River continues to carry the next generation downstream.