Record-Breaking Chinook Salmon Run on Mokelumne River Marks Largest in History
The 2024-25 fall run of Chinook salmon on the Mokelumne River has set a new record, with more than 30,000 salmon counted so far, surpassing last year’s record-breaking return of 28,698. Hundreds of fish continue to arrive daily, marking the largest salmon return since record-keeping began in 1940, with several weeks still remaining in the spawning season.
The Mokelumne River watershed spans parts of Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, San Joaquin, and Sacramento counties, draining into the Pacific Ocean through the Delta and San Francisco Bay. It is also the primary drinking water source for over 1.4 million customers in Alameda and Contra Costa counties. The East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD), which manages the river, credits science-based management, enhanced habitat efforts, and collaboration with local, state, and federal partners for the historic salmon run.
“This historic salmon run is a testament to our decades-long dedication to sustaining the Mokelumne River habitat and investing in fish hatchery operations,” said EBMUD board president Lesa McIntosh.
EBMUD, in partnership with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, funds and manages the Mokelumne River Hatchery. Despite contributing only 3% of the freshwater flow into the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, the Mokelumne River accounts for up to 50% of California’s commercial salmon catch.
The statewide closure of the 2023 and 2024 salmon fishing seasons likely played a significant role in the record return, allowing more fish to survive and spawn. The Mokelumne hatchery is also supporting the Coleman National Fish Hatchery in Shasta County by providing approximately 3 million eggs this season.
This record salmon return is not just a victory for conservation efforts but a vital indicator of the Mokelumne River’s ecological health and a promising sign for future salmon populations.
