Jacob Katz with California Trout briefed the State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) this morning on salmon recovery efforts occurring in the Sacramento Valley and screened the California Trout short film on rearing salmon on winter-flooded rice fields titled “No Going Back.” Video of Jacob’s presentation should soon be available at: State Water Resources Control Board – Board Videos. During his discussion with the State Water Board, Jacob provided an overview of the rice field salmon rearing study, known as the Nigiri Project. In addition, he also briefed the State Water Board on the pilot program this winter to grow fish food by irrigating harvested rice fields and managed wetlands. These fields are then drained back into the river to provide food for juvenile salmon and other species in the river. This effort was described in a recent Marysville Appeal-Democrat story.
In related news, Curtis Knight, California Trout’s executive director, will be speaking at the NCWA 25th Annual Meeting next Friday, March 3rd at the Sierra Nevada Brewery in Chico. Curtis will be talking about “Balancing the Needs of Wild Fish and People in California’s Working Landscapes.”
