Fish Plants on the North Fork of the Feather River

October 10, 2019

Question: I have been a diehard freshwater fisherman in California for over 40 years and am frustrated over the lack of planting on my home water. Why is there a lack of trout planting on the North Fork Feather River at Belden? I just don’t understand. (Mike E.)

Answer: The North Fork Feather River at Belden is a plant that CDFW conducts for PG&E as a requirement of their Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) license. CDFW grows and plants the fish and is reimbursed by PG&E.

The allotment of fish for the North Fork Feather River at Belden is based on that FERC license requirement, and it has been the same – 5,000 lbs. of catchable rainbow trout – for the last 25 years. We are not always able to meet that allotment, but that is the goal we are shooting to reach for that water every year. Last year, CDFW’s North Central Region was short on fish, due in part to an unexpected disease outbreak, and the fact that Moccasin Creek Hatchery was damaged by flooding (other hatcheries picked up their planting allotments, which spread the resource more thin than usual).

So far in 2019, we are well on our way to meeting the 5,000 pound goal. In April we planted 1,520 fish, in June we planted 1,610 fish, and most recently on August 14 we planted 1,360 fish. That’s a total of 4,490 catchable trout so far in 2019. There are more plants on the way this fall.

She switched units from pounds to fish. The planters are two to a pound.

She switched units from pounds to fish. The planters are two to a pound.

Thanks for the clarification...