The true impact of this wet year, at least in the fishing world, won't be fully measured for three years.
In contrast to salmon smolts released three years ago in drought conditions, this batch of fish will enjoy the fruits of California's abundantly wet winter. The state's rivers are running fast and cold, with the fast water kicking-up sediment to produce enough turbidity to help conceal the tiny three-inch smolts from predators both in the air and water.
Spring-run salmon are considered threatened, while fall-run chinook, or king salmon, are the backbone of the state's fishing industry. Because the fish live a three-year cycle of river to ocean to river - the population of fall-run fish that led to this year's salmon season closure began their lives in drought-impacted rivers which flowed with less-than-ideal warm water.
The state's hatchery program was designed to off-set the impacts of the state's dams, which cut-off fish populations from miles of upstream rivers. In light of this year's favorable conditions, the state's hatcheries are releasing millions more chinook fry to take advantage of the increased survivability.
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