Mysterious disease kills 800,000 baby salmon newly released into California River to help improve population in stream

Nearly 800,000 baby salmon died from a mysterious disease after being released into a California river to help boost their population in the stream.

The Chinook salmon died early last week after California Department of Fish and Wildlife officials released it into the Klamath River, which is located above the Iron Gate Dam tunnel near the California-Oregon border. .

The dam on the 257-mile river was removed in November in an effort to allow salmon, Pacific lamprey and steelhead trout access to their habitat and reduce the presence of poor water quality.

The babies, who were just born at the new $35 million Fall Creek fish hatchery, died from gas bubble disease that likely left the fish with lesions and caused their gills to rupture. and fins.

“The problems associated with the Iron Gate Dam tunnel are temporary and are another sad reminder of how Klamath River dams have harmed salmon runs for generations,” the agency said.

The Klamath River (pictured) is located above the Iron Gate Dam tunnel, near the California-Oregon border. A dam along the 257-mile river was removed in November in an effort to boost the salmon population.

The babies, also known as salmon fry, were affected by the disease while passing through the Iron Gate Dam tunnel, which the California Department of Fish and Wildlife called “aging infrastructure.”

This rare disease is caused by physical or environmental damage caused by “increased partial pressure of nitrogen” in springs or groundwater, according to the National Institute of Health.

“CDFW will plan all future salmon releases below Iron Gate Dam until this infrastructure is removed.”

“Poor habitat conditions caused by dams and other circumstances like this are reasons CDFW releases hatchery fish at various life stages.”

The deceased fish, which recently hatched from eggs, were the first of the species to pass through the river and were also the first to be released by the agency from its new hatchery. SF Gate reported.

The agency said there is “no indication” that the fish deaths were related to water quality in the Klamath River, turbidity (the measure of sediment in the water) or dissolved oxygen levels.

The agency added that at the time of the salmon fry’s release, both were reading at “adequate levels.”

Although a large number of baby salmon died from the disease, there are still approximately 3.27 million Chinook salmon alive in the stream.

Chinook salmon are known as the largest species of salmon and are “sustainably managed and responsibly caught according to US regulations.” NOAA Fisheries reported.

The type of salmon is also anadromous, meaning they hatch in freshwater before being moved to saltwater streams to grow and feed.

This type of salmon is also anadromous, meaning they hatch in freshwater before being moved to saltwater streams to grow and feed.

State officials said there is “no indication” that the fish deaths were related to water quality in the Klamath River, turbidity (the measure of sediment in the water) or dissolved oxygen levels.

They are most commonly found in Monterey Bay, California, and can also be found in the Chukchi Sea area of ​​Alaska, according to NOAA Fisheries.

In the fall, the agency announced it was “taking urgent action” to save the Central Valley’s remaining spring Chinook salmon after their numbers “dropped sharply toward extinction.”

Cathy Marcinkevage, deputy regional administrator for NOAA Fisheries’ West Coast region, previously said, “We’re running out of options.”

“We want this species to thrive in the wild, but right now we’re worried about losing it.”

In its latest news release, the agency said its annual goal for Chinook salmon production is to “raise and release 3.25 million fish.”

“The additional stock of fall Chinook salmon remaining in the hatchery exceeds the annual production goal and will help offset losses experienced with the initial release of fingerlings,” the agency said.