Yuba River Salmon Return Numbers: March– September 2025

At the South Yuba River Citizens League (SYRCL), we track Chinook salmon returns closely because healthy populations of this keystone species are a key indicator of a thriving river ecosystem. Through SYRCL’s participation in the River Management Team (RMT), our staff receives monthly updates on the number of Chinook and steelhead adults utilizing the fish ladders at Daguerre Point Dam. This information is collected using VAKI River Watcher camera systems installed in the North and South ladders, which snap a photo every time a fish swims past it.  

It’s important to remember that fish ladder counts are only one piece of the puzzle. To estimate overall adult salmon populations in the lower Yuba River, scientists also collect data from redd (spawning nest) and carcass surveys. These datasets are used in population models to provide a more complete picture of salmon returning to spawn. All RMT data shared here is provisional and subject to further analysis. 

Taking A Look At The Numbers   

This year, Chinook salmon passage numbers are approximately twice those observed during the same period in 2024. The majority of these fish are likely spring-run Chinook, a threatened strain of Central Valley Chinook, based on their summer migration behavior. To confirm the run type, genetic samples would need to be collected. 

Some of these salmon have already made redds at SYRCL’s Upper Rose Bar spawning restoration project. Completed in 2024, this project enhanced salmon spawning habitat by adding appropriately sized gravels to two riffles and a side channel, creating healthier conditions for egg incubation.  

In September 2025, our redd surveys recorded eight redds in the restored area—a notable increase compared to the seven total redds counted across all of 2020 and 2021 combined before restoration. 

As water temperatures cool, we hope to see a busy October, welcoming fall-run Chinook back to the Yuba River and up the fish ladders. Together, through restoration, monitoring, and community engagement, we can help ensure that salmon continue to thrive in our rivers. Stay tuned for updated passage and redd counts on our platforms. 

What Is the RMT?   

The RMT is a group of agency and non-profit representatives that work together to better understand and promote research on the lower Yuba River. Members of the RMT include SYRCL, Yuba Water Agency, US Fish and Wildlife Service, State Water Resources Control Board, Dept of Water Resources, Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission, CA Dept Fish and Wildlife, National Marine Fisheries Service, , and the US Army Corps of Engineers. The RMT helps fund restoration, monitoring, and make science-informed decisions for the Lower Yuba River.      

The RMT funds Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission to provide the fish count updates, among many other monitoring tasks on the Lower Yuba River. They do so through the use of VAKI River Watcher camera systems. These cameras are located in the fish ladders at Daguerre Point Dam and take a picture of each fish (or otter) that swims past them. Specialized software then identifies what species the fish is, and biologists later confirm it. This process gives us a count, reported monthly during the RMT meeting, of the number and species of fish traveling up the Yuba.