Fish Passage Above Shasta Dam

Programs & Data

Providing anadromous salmonids, particularly Sacramento River winter-run Chinook Salmon (winter-run) access to their historic habitat above Shasta Reservoir is a critical recovery action and provides population resiliency throughout the Sacramento River basin.

About
Data Access
Status and Source
Field Reports & Memos
Feasibility Reports
Published Manuscripts

Introduction

With the completion of Shasta Dam in 1945, three of the four historic populations of winter-run were extirpated from historical habitat above Shasta Dam. The historical populations included those in the Little Sacramento River, (Pit, Fall, and Hat rivers), the McCloud River, and Battle Creek (Lindley et al. 2004).

The Shasta Dam Fish Passage Evaluation was a previous effort by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to determine the feasibility of reintroducing winter-run, Central Valley spring-run Chinook Salmon, and steelhead to tributaries above Shasta Dam (Reclamation 2017).

In spring 2023, the Winnemem Wintu Tribe, CDFW, and NMFS entered into historic salmon management and stewardship agreements. The purpose of these agreements was to establish a co-management framework that integrates Winnemem Wintu Tribe’s traditional knowledge and cultural tribal values with CDFW’s and NMFS’ recovery responsibilities, research, and potential management practices. The goal is to restore traditional cultural fisheries, including state and federally listed winter-run impacted by loss of access to historical spawning grounds above Shasta Reservoir, to the extent possible and consistent with Indigenous Rights and federal, state, and local laws and regulations (CDFW and Winnemem Wintu Tribe 2023).

Starting in the summer of 2022, pilot winter-run reintroduction efforts occurred on the McCloud River. These efforts included streamside egg incubation and fry production, downstream juvenile trapping, and transport of collected juveniles around Shasta Reservoir to release locations in the Sacramento River downstream of Keswick Dam. In addition to the pilot reintroduction efforts, a variety of actions were completed to investigate the feasibility of fish passage and reintroduction of Chinook Salmon back to the McCloud River. Funding for these efforts was provided by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Wildlife Conservation Board.

Please contact Matt Johnson to request specific data sets.

Point of Contact

Jason Roberts
Environmental Program Manager - Inland Fisheries
Northern Region (Region 1)
CA Department of Fish and Wildlife
Jason.Roberts@wildlife.ca.gov

Pilot Reintroduction Field Reports and Memos

This section contains field reports and memos for the pilot reintroduction efforts and follow up site visits. Rotary Screw Trap

2022 McCloud River Winter Run Chinook Salmon Reintroduction Pilot Project Summary Report

2023 McCloud River Winter Run Chinook Reintroduction Pilot Project Summary Report

Documentation of Winter-Run Chinook Salmon Spawning in the Lower McCloud River July 2025

Juvenile Salmonid Collection System Report on Field Operations 2023

Juvenile Salmonid Collection System Report on Field Operations 2024-2025

McCloud River Winter Run Chinook Salmon Reintroduction Implementation and Monitoring Report on Field Operations 2024

Observations of winter-run Chinook Salmon Spawning in the lower McCloud River on July 15 2025 Memo

McCloud River WR Chinook Salmon Reintroduction Implementation and Monitoring - Report on Field Operations in 2024-2025

Feasibility of Volitional Fish Passage above Keswick and Shasta Dams

This section contains the reports and appendices associated with the Feasibility of Volitional Fish Passage above Keswick and Shasta Dams.

Feasibility Study of Salmon Passage at Shasta and Keswick Dams Alternatives Formulation and Evaluation Report

Data_Gaps_Background Compendium_and_Design_Criteria_Report

Appendices:

Appendix A_Monthly Meeting Summaries

Appendix B_Access Letter Temp Flow

Appendix C_Final_Pac NW Tour Itinerary

Appendix D_Physical Data Gaps Study Reference List(Excel)

Appendix E_LiDAR Data Collection Report

Appendix F_Considerations_Construction_Volitional_Swimway

Appendix G_Existing Water Infrastructure, Barriers, and Water Rights Data

Appendix H_Hydrology Study

Appendix I_Temperature Data Collection Study

Appendix J_Thermal Accumulation in Migratory Corridors and Channels

Appendix K_Water Quantity Requirements for Preliminary Fish Passage Alternatives

Appendix L_Physical Barriers Fish Passage Evaluation

Appendix M_Summary of Previous Development and Evaluation of Trap and Haul Passage Alternative

Appendix N_Life History Summary

Appendix O_Physical_Data_Gaps_DWR Summary

Appendix P_Pacific Salmon Olfactory Imprinting and Homing Considerations

Appendix Q_Life-Cycle Model Report

Appendix_R_VolitionalTunnel_LightingLiteratureReview

Published Manuscripts Associated with CDFW and WCB Funding for Pilot Reintroduction Efforts

This section contains manuscripts or links to manuscripts associated with Pilot Reintroduction Efforts that CDFW and WCB funded.

Evaluation of Pathogen Risks and Testing Considerations for Chinook Salmon Egg Movements Between New Zealand and California