2006 November - Hatchery Manager's Report
By Dave Streig, Hatchery Manager
Next year we are going to be celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the restoration of the old California Department of Fish and Game Big Creek Hatchery, for the restoration of Coho Salmon and enhancement of Steelhead stocks in the Monterey Bay area.
In the spring, to coincide with the original beginning of the restoration activities 25 years ago, we will be celebrating a new milestone:
- This past spawning season with the use of Coho Captive Broodstocks the Monterey Bay Salmon & Trout Project and the Santa Cruz NOAA Fisheries Labs were able to produce viable Coho females to spawn for the first time in the extinct Coho year class south of San Francisco. Next March we will have Coho smelts to be released to go to sea for two years and return to spawn in Scotts Creek.
- The Hatchery presently has on hand for next year’s planting and this coming December 2nd Fin Clipping Work Party:
- 46,600 San Lorenzo River Steelhead
- 5,250 Scotts Creek Steelhead
- 2,170 Scotts Creek Coho Salmon
After the Spring Equinox our fish planting season begins and volunteer crews will deliver the fish to their watershed of origin. This upcoming year we are also in need of new volunteers for all aspects of the Project; Board of Directors, Financial Development Committee, Membership Development Committee, Hatchery Operations Steering Committee, Educator Program Committee, Volunteer Coordination Committee and Maintenance and Construction Committee. If you are interested in getting involved, please contact Volunteer Coordinator Mary Hermansky at 831-425-3095 or 831-331-5586, or call
Board Chairman Al Smith at 831-722-4753, you can also leave a message at the Hatchery at 831-458-3095. I would like to thank all of our past and present volunteers, for without you, none of our accomplishments would have ever been reached.
