Despite two years of closure the count of returning salmon at the Coleman National Fish Hatchery is down 60% compared to last year.

Scott Hamelberg, the hatchery’s manager, said Thursday that only 8,000 Chinook salmon have returned to the Battle Creek hatchery so far this year, down from 14,000 the year before, one of the lowest-ever returns since the hatchery was built to offset the loss of breeding habitat caused by the Shasta and Keswick dams.

In light of 480,000 returnees in 2002, Salmon populations in the Sacramento now cannot even provide enough eggs and milt to fill the incubation trays.

I suppose it’s a relief to Cemex – as they’ll be getting the contract to line the bothersome ditch with cement – smoothing out all the bends so the water can be carried south faster.

I’m reminded of the scene in “Rivers of a Lost Coast” where the fisheries biologist mentions, “it won’t be the fisheries that will change things, it’ll be the need for clean water that’ll arouse the public..”

I think the fisheries lobby has missed the boat. It’s plain there’s not enough anglers to make the demise of a noble river an issue, we need to bring the issue to the masses in a way that’ll deprive someone of something.

… like rationing Fillet O’ Fish sandwiches, or closing a half dozen Hollywood sushi venues.

Some suburban mom outraged that she can’t slow her child’s wail of anguish with a sugar-fish with bun – some minor celebrity pouting over his Tekka Maki being made with canned tuna …

Hell hath no greater fury.

Tags: Coleman National Fish Hatchery, Sacramento River Salmon