The San Joaquin River Restoration Program (SJRRP) is a long-term initiative designed to restore flows in the San Joaquin River, aiming to establish a self-sustaining spring-run Chinook salmon population and to mitigate negative impacts on water supply for long-term contractors. The program emerged after the construction of Friant Dam in 1942, which led to dwindling salmon populations due to water diversion for irrigation.
Environmental groups filed a lawsuit against the Bureau of Reclamation in 1988 for not adequately supplying water to support local fish populations, culminating in a settlement in 2006 that set the goals for restoration and water management. The SJRRP is managed by five agencies, including NOAA Fisheries, which handles technical support for salmon reintroduction and fish passage.
NOAA Fisheries designated reintroduced spring-run Chinook salmon in the San Joaquin River as an experimental non-essential population, allowing for their release outside their historical range without threatening the overall species. The program includes various management plans to enhance fish habitats and tracks progress toward restoration goals. A comprehensive Long-term Monitoring Plan is underway to support ongoing assessments and adaptive management decisions.
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