State wildlife officials are proposing to close 5.5 miles of the Sacramento River to all fishing in coming months in a desperate move to help preserve winter run salmon on the river.
With sharply reduced flows expected, water temperatures in the Sacramento River are once again expected to rise to near lethal levels for the prized pink-fleshed fish, potentially decimating both spawning fish and newly laid eggs. Last year, 95 percent of winter run chinook roe and young fish perished due to high water temperatures.
To reduce chances that anglers going for trout hook a salmon in their prime spawning habitat, the state Department of Fish and Wildlife is proposing to close the river to all fishing between Kesiwick Dam and the Highway 44 bridge in Redding. The closure would last from April 27 until August 1.
A meeting to solicit public input on the plan is scheduled for Tuesday at the Redding Public Library, 1100 Parkview Avenue, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.