Reclamation seeks public input on proposed repairs to fix capacity of the Friant-Kern Canal SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Bureau of Reclamation and Friant Water Authority seek public input on alternatives to repair a 33-mile stretch of the Friant-Kern Canal in California’s eastern San Joaquin Valley. This stretch of canal has lost over half of its […]
Author: Josh Newcom
Spring-run Chinook return again for 2020!
For the second year in a row, spring-run Chinook salmon have returned to the San Joaquin River. “The capture of returning spring-run adults indicates that the return of the spring-run Chinook last year was no anomaly,” said Don Portz, San Joaquin River Restoration Program, Program Manager. “All of the hard work from Program staff is […]
2017-18 Annual Report Available
Read all about Program accomplishments for the 2017-2018 years here!
2019 Spring-Run Redds Set Record!
Record spring-run Chinook redds in San Joaquin River Threatened fish overcome obstacles to access spawning habitat By Josh Newcom Reaching a new milestone, the San Joaquin River Restoration Program (Program) has recorded a record number of spring-run Chinook salmon redds (fish nests) this season – four times the number discovered last year. Last year, the […]
Spring 2019 Program Update: water user benefits
While the Program has a goal to restore flows to the San Joaquin River in order to repopulate Chinook salmon, it also has a goal to avoid adverse water supply impacts to water users. So far, the Program has spent over $28 million to benefit Friant contractors. Read about those efforts here in the Spring […]
A Big First: Spring-run Chinook Return!
For the first time in over 65 years, threatened Central Valley spring-run Chinook adult salmon have completed their life cycle and returned to the Restoration Area. While spring-run have been placed as adults in the river previously, this is the first time Program fish have migrated out of the system as juveniles and returned as […]
Program gives $10.3M for sinking Friant-Kern Canal
The SJRRP has provided $10.3 million to assist the Friant Water Authority with restoring the original design and built capacity of the Friant-Kern Canal. The canal, which has over half of its designed capacity eliminated due to subsidence (compacting earth from groundwater overpumping), is currently undergoing a planning and design process to fix the impacted portions […]
Creating a Model Fish Passage Project
In September, a group of fish biologists, engineers, and farmers met at Reclamation’s Denver Technical Service to help ensure that the San Joaquin River Restoration Program’s largest engineering feat to date – developing a new stretch of river with passage for salmonids and other native fish – will pass environmental and engineering muster. And they […]
Program Delivers Prestigious Keys Awards to Recipents
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Highlighting successful collaboration to improve water supply management, two John W. Keys, III Awards were presented at the third biennial San Joaquin River Restoration Program Science Meeting held in Sacramento, California on August 22 and 23. In keeping with the meeting theme “Collaborating for the Future,” the Keys Award recipients were recognized […]
Portz to lead as Program Manager
Don Portz to lead San Joaquin River Restoration Program for Reclamation SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Bureau of Reclamation’s Mid-Pacific Region announced Thursday the selection of Don Portz as the San Joaquin River Restoration Program manager. Portz has been involved with the SJRRP since 2010 and has served as its lead fish biologist since 2015. “Dr. […]