45-Day Public Comment Period Opens for the Draft Riverine Stewardship Program Salmon Coldwater Expansion and Reintroduction Guidelines

For millions of years, salmon endured global-scale climate variabilities, yet they persisted through their unique and diverse life history strategies. Current populations are at a fraction of their historic numbers and are facing a hotter, drier future, but adaptation and resiliency is in their DNA. It is this innate resiliency that fuels the state's engagement with local communities, Tribal Nations, commercial and recreational anglers, environmental and conservation organizations, federal agencies, landowners, and community members.

The key focus of the Riverine Stewardship Program's Salmon Coldwater Expansion and Reintroduction (RSP SCE&R) is to improve climate and drought resilience for Central Valley salmonids by guiding the establishment of future reintroduction programs that restore fish access to their historical high-quality, cold-water spawning and rearing habitats behind high head dams.

The RSP Team will work with Tribes, local, state and federal agencies, and other willing partners on projects in the foothills and slopes of the Cascades and Sierra Nevada ranges of the Sacramento and San Joaquin river watersheds to restore salmonid access to their historical upstream ranges.

These guidelines outline how RSP aligns project selection with Department of Water Resources' organizational directives and policies, funding source requirements, state laws, and other state guidance. Following the close of the public comment period and review of public comments, RSP will post the Final Guidelines.

Comment Period:

The 45-day public comment period opened on March 30, 2026, and will close on Thursday, May 14, 2026. View the draft guidelines on the Riverine Stewardship Program Websiteand send comments by email to r[email protected]. The RSP will consider comments received by 11:59 p.m. on the last day of public review.

Public Meeting:

Thursday, April 30, 2026

3:00 - 4:30 P.M.

Virtual Meeting via Zoom

Follow this link to register.

Tribal Meeting:

TBD between April 29 and May 14, 2026