Last updated on 11/13/2025

Fish

The Program's Restoration Goal is to restore and maintain fish populations in “good condition” in the main stem of the San Joaquin River below Friant Dam to the confluence of the Merced River, including naturally reproducing and self-sustaining populations of salmon and other fish.

Developing a self-sustaining Chinook salmon fishery to the San Joaquin River requires major planning and execution, all driven by sound science.

Our most comprehensive document to date is the Fisheries Framework, completed in 2018. This document outlines the goals and objectives for establishing spring-run and fall-run Chinook salmon populations in the Restoration Area, identifies the necessary habitat to support naturally reproducing, self-sustaining salmon populations; and, outlines the proposed Adaptive Management process and implementation plan for fishery actions. Below are links to the Fisheries Framework for spring-run and fall-fun Chinook salmon.

FISHERIES FRAMEWORK

Fisheries Framework: Spring-run and Fall-run Chinook Salmon
Appendix-A: Report Development Process
Appendix B: Defining and Alleviating Stressors to Meet Program Objectives
Appendix C: Summaries of Issue Background Papers
Appendix D: Introgression Analysis
Appendix E: Draft Segregation Protocol
Appendix F: Habitat Implementation
Appendix G: Juvenile Trap and Haul Report
Appendix H: Response to Comments
Public Comments

Fisheries Reintroduction Documents

NameCategoryDateYearKindSize
Juvenile Spring-Run Chinook Salmon Production, Survival, and Emigration in the San Joaquin River Restoration Area 2021–22 Monitoring and Analysis ReportFisheries ReintroductionOctober 16, 20252025pdf1.37 MB
2022 Adult Spring-Run Chinook Salmon Monitoring and Trap and Haul ReportFisheries ReintroductionOctober 8, 2025pdf1.12 MB
Fish Assemblage Inventory and Monitoring 2013-2014 Fisheries ReintroductionAugust 26, 2024pdf0 B
2021 Assessment of Spring-run Chinook Salmon Spawning Fisheries ReintroductionAugust 26, 20242024pdf0 B
2020 Assessment of Spring-run Chinook Salmon Spawning Fisheries ReintroductionJuly 24, 2024pdf0 B
2019 Assessment of Spring-run Chinook Salmon Spawning Fisheries ReintroductionJuly 24, 2024pdf0 B
2021 Adult Spring-Run Chinook Salmon Monitoring and Trap and Haul in the San Joaquin River Restoration Area 2021 Draft SJRRP Project Report Fisheries ReintroductionSeptember 30, 20222022pdf0 B
Fall-run Chinook Salmon Trap and Haul 2012-16 Final Monitoring and Analysis Report Fisheries ReintroductionFebruary 2, 20222022pdf0 B
2016 Juvenile Chinook Salmon Trap and Haul Program Final Monitoring and Analysis Report Fisheries ReintroductionFebruary 2, 20222022pdf0 B
San Joaquin River Steelhead Monitoring Plan 2020-21 Fisheries ReintroductionDecember 10, 20212021pdf0 B
San Joaquin River Steelhead Monitoring Plan 2019-20 Fisheries ReintroductionAugust 13, 20212021pdf0 B
Juvenile Spring-Run Chinook Salmon Production and Emigration in the San Joaquin River Restoration Area 2018-2019 Monitoring and Analysis Fisheries ReintroductionAugust 9, 20212021pdf0 B
Juvenile Spring-Run Chinook Salmon Production and Emigration in the San Joaquin River Restoration Area 2017-2018 Monitoring and Analysis Fisheries ReintroductionAugust 9, 20212021pdf0 B
Adult Spring-Run Chinook Salmon Monitoring and Trap and Haul in the San Joaquin River Restoration Area 2020 Monitoring and Analysis Report Fisheries ReintroductionAugust 9, 20212021pdf0 B
Adult Spring-Run Chinook Salmon Monitoring, Trap and Haul, and Rescue Actions in the San Joaquin River Restoration Area 2019 Monitoring and Analysis Report Fisheries ReintroductionAugust 9, 20212021pdf0 B
2017-2018 Juvenile Spring-Run Chinook Salmon Production and Emigration in the San Joaquin River Restoration Area Fisheries ReintroductionNovember 3, 20202020pdf0 B
Juvenile Salmon Monitoring and Analysis Fisheries ReintroductionNovember 2, 20202018pdf0 B
2018 SJRRP Spawning Report Fisheries ReintroductionOctober 15, 2019pdf0 B
SJRRP Genetics AnnualReport 2018 508 Fisheries ReintroductionOctober 15, 2019pdf0 B
2019 Adult SR Monitoring Trap And Haul Report FINAL Fisheries ReintroductionSeptember 23, 2019pdf0 B
2019 Adult SR Monitoring Trap And Haul Report FINAL Fisheries ReintroductionSeptember 23, 2019pdf0 B
2019 Adult SR Monitoring Trap And Haul Report FINAL Fisheries ReintroductionSeptember 23, 2019pdf0 B
Fisheries Framework Appendix G: San Joaquin Juvenile Chinook Salmon Trap and Haul Analysis Report Fisheries ReintroductionJuly 5, 20172017pdf4.3 MiB
Fisheries Framework Appendix F: San Joaquin River Habitat and Flow Changes with SJRRP Implementation Memo Fisheries ReintroductionJuly 5, 20172017pdf0.8 MiB
Fisheries Framework Appendix E: Draft Segregation Protocol Fisheries ReintroductionJuly 5, 20172017pdf0.2 MiB
Fisheries Framework Appendix D: Analysis of Potential Spring-run and Fall-run Chinook Salmon Genetic Introgression Fisheries ReintroductionJuly 5, 20172017pdf0.9 MiB
Fisheries Framework Appendix C: Summaries of Issue Background Papers Fisheries ReintroductionJuly 5, 20172017pdf0.3 MiB
Fisheries Framework Appendix B: Report on Defining and Alleviating à Stressors to Meet Program Objectives and Stressor Ranking Figures Fisheries ReintroductionJuly 5, 20172017pdf1.1 MiB
Fisheries Framework Appendix A: Report Development Process and Consultation Documentation Fisheries ReintroductionJuly 5, 20172017pdf0.2 MiB
Version 5.1 SJRRP Fisheries Framework 062617- Final Draft Fisheries ReintroductionJune 29, 20172017pdf2.5 MiB
San Joaquin River Restoration Program Fish Passage Evaluation Plan Fisheries ReintroductionMay 19, 2017pdf19.5 MiB
Stock Selection Strategy Fisheries ReintroductionMarch 22, 20172010pdf1.7 MiB
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 10(a)1(A) Enhancement of Species Permit Application for the Reintroduction of Central Valley Spring-Run Chinook into the San Joaquin River Fisheries ReintroductionMarch 22, 20172012pdf1.9 MiB
Guidance Document for Methods to Assess San Joaquin River Spring-Run Chinook Salmon in Relation to CVP/SWP Delta Facility Operational Triggers and Fisheries ReintroductionMarch 22, 20172015pdf0.9 MiB
Department of Fish and Game Letter and Concurrence Determination for Broodstock Fisheries ReintroductionMarch 22, 20172012pdf0.5 MiB
Fisheries Implementation Plan 2009-2010 Fisheries ReintroductionMarch 22, 20172010pdf3.3 MiB
Fisheries Management Plan: A Framework for Adaptive Management in the San Joaquin River Restoration Program Fisheries ReintroductionMarch 22, 20172010pdf2.5 MiB
Exhibit A Conceptual Models of Stressors and Limiting Factors for San Joaquin River Chinook Salmon Fisheries Management Plan Fisheries ReintroductionMarch 22, 20172010pdf2.0 MiB
Exhibit B Water Quality Criteria Fisheries Management Plan: A Framework for Adaptive Management in the San Joaquin River Restoration Program Fisheries ReintroductionMarch 22, 20172010pdf0.3 MiB
Exhibit C Spawning Habitat Characterization Fisheries Management Plan: A Framework for Adaptive Management in the San Joaquin River Restoration Program Fisheries ReintroductionMarch 22, 20172010pdf0.2 MiB
Exhibit D Stock Selection Strategy: Spring-Run Chinook Salmon Fisheries Management Plan: A Framework for Adaptive Management in the San Joaquin River Restoration Program Fisheries ReintroductionMarch 22, 20172010pdf1.6 MiB
Exhibit E Ecological Goals of the Restoration Flows Fisheries Management Plan: A Framework for Adaptive Management in the San Joaquin River Restoration Program Fisheries ReintroductionMarch 22, 20172010pdf0.5 MiB
Exhibit F EDT Proof of Concept Fisheries Management Plan: A Framework for Adaptive Management in the San Joaquin River Restoration Program Fisheries ReintroductionMarch 22, 20172010pdf0.5 MiB
Hatchery and Genetic Management Plan Fisheries ReintroductionMarch 22, 20172010pdf2.1 MiB
Reintroduction Strategy for Spring Run Fisheries ReintroductionMarch 22, 20172011pdf1.2 MiB

Reintroduction

As part of the San Joaquin River Restoration Program, routine year-round monitoring of fish throughout their lifecycle is conducted in the Restoration Area.
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chinook salmon lifecycle

Monitoring

The Program has reintroduction activities for both juvenile and adult spring-run Chinook salmon — the species of focus for the Program and listed as Threatened under the Endangered Species Act.
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Habitat

Monitoring of physical habitat conditions along and within the San Joaquin River provides information on potential needs and limitations for fisheries.
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Overhead view of two fish swimming across rocky river bed.