2025 Fall Chinook Salmon Brood Arrive!

Usually, the first broodstock are captured in mid to late September. This year, perhaps because of warmer weather and lack of rain, they did not show up until the first week in October. But they have started coming in and we are taking them to the hatchery to ripen for spawning.

Volunteers opening the trap ready to capture the returning adult salmon

As quickly as possible the fish are transported to the holding raceway at the Gardiner hatchery for holding until they ripen for spawning.

As the fish ripen, they are spawned and the fertilized eggs places in “Redd Zone” eyeing station. Following eyeing eggs are transferred to incubation boxes to hatch into Fry.