California Department of Fish and Wildlife
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Fish Planting Evaluation

CDFW recently responded to a legal action challenging its hatchery and stocking operations, and completed an Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS) that considers species and habitats affected by hatchery-raised rainbow trout. One of the conditions of the EIR/EIS is that each water planted throughout California must go through a Pre-Stocking Evaluation Protocol. This evaluation requires CDFW to consider each sensitive or listed species in each water relative to the stocking of trout. CDFW fisheries staff have made the evaluations a top priority, but until the review is completed and approved by our administration, rainbow trout or channel catfish cannot be stocked.

Approved Public Waters

Questions about the fish planting process or schedules? Contact the Hatchery Coordinator.