In the serene waters of Mill, Deer, and Butte creeks, a silent crisis unfolds, as the Central Valley spring-run Chinook salmon teeter on the brink of extinction. This fall, biologists from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries are embarking on a meticulous and urgent mission, navigating through the dwindling numbers and the looming shadow of a species’ potential demise. The term “cohort collapse” has been coined by biologists to describe the stark reality faced by the Chinook salmon this year. The species, which typically follows a 3- or 4-year life … Continue reading Salmon on the Brink: The Delicate Rescue Operation of Chinook in Central Valley