Stretch Of Sacramento River Closed To Fishing After Drought Conditions Threaten Chinook Population
REDDING (CBS/AP) -- More than five miles of critical spawning habitat on the upper Sacramento River has closed to salmon fishing.
An emergency regulation closing 5.5 miles above the city of Redding went into effect Monday.
Late rains and high temperatures during the California drought led to the destruction of millions of Chinook eggs, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service. An entire class of winter-run Chinook salmon was lost.
The recommendation was made by the state Fish and Game Commission and approved by the Office of Administrative Law Monday.
The closure will protect critical spawning habitat and eliminate stress or hooking deaths of winter-run salmon by anglers. Trout fishing is still allowed.
It is unusual for a state to propose even stricter guidelines on a listed species than required by the federal Endangered Species Act. However, fish and wildlife scientists say the additional protection will help a significant segment of the winter-run population to avoid losses.
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