Number of spring-run salmon released is far below normal

A half-million baby spring-run salmon were released Monday into the Feather River, which is far less than normal, according to the Golden Gate Salmon Association.

The fish were released downstream from the confluence with the Yuba River, according to the association.

Normally 2 million of the spring-run fish would be released from the Feather River Fish Hatchery, but only 1,200 adults were captured for harvest this year.

The salmon association said that’s because the water in the river was low and clear during the drought in 2015 when this year’s fish were released from the hatchery. That made them easy targets for predators on their journey to the ocean.

This year the fish got a boost with steppedup releases from the Oroville Dam complex. Flows into the river were increased from 1,000 cubic feet per second to 4,050 cfs at 3 p.m. Monday to mimic the natural conditions.

The increased releases are called “pulse flows” and are increasingly seen as vital to salmon survival.

“GGSA has pushed for spring pulse flows for years so it’s good to see the Department of Water Resources acknowledge the value these flows provide to baby salmon,” said association president John Mcmanus.

The releases did not come directly from Lake Oroville but instead from the Thermalito Afterbay, according to the DWR website. Flows through the Hyatt Powerhouse are being curtailed except for three or four hours a day in an effort to store more water in lake.

Storage in the lake topped 2 million acre-feet Monday morning, which is an increase of 540,000 acre-feet since the start of March.

The lake level was 782.78 feet above sea level at 2 p.m., up more than 3 feet in 24 hours. DWR’S flood control plan for this year calls for increasing releases if the level gets to 800 feet this month. killed in the 1900 block of Woodland Drive on Oct. 22, 2016.

Until Tuesday, Walker Clay Jeremiah, 17, had been the only one charged with the murder.

According to court documents, Jeremiah and at least three other minors had parked in front of Pacheco’s residence. Pacheco came outside and talked to them through the car window when they began arguing. The vehicle started to drive away with Pacheco still partially inside physically fighting with Jeremiah, when Jeremiah allegedly shot Pacheco. Pacheco then fell from the vehicle, and Jeremiah and another minor got out and allegedly began punching him.

As witnesses approached, Jeremiah and the minor got back into the vehicle and fled, according to court documents.

A neighbor told the Appealdemocrat in 2016 that she heard a woman outside yelling at kids in a sedan who had cut her off and were driving recklessly, according to archives. A few minutes later, the neighbor heard a thud and tires screeching to a stop before they ran outside and saw two of the teens in the sedan beating Pacheco.

Pacheco’s brother and another neighbor laid Pacheco flat to check for injuries and saw the gunshot wound. The neighbor said he was not conscious from the moment neighbors found him. They applied pressure on the wound and Pacheco was intubated there by first responders before being transported to Rideout.

According to Appeal-democrat archives, two other teens had also been arrested in relation to the shooting, but Jeremiah was the only one charged.

“The investigation has been ongoing and Yuba City Police detectives along with the Sutter County District Attorney’s Office felt there was enough evidence to make the additional arrests,” Runyen said in an email Tuesday.

Jeremiah, Rohde, and Cornejo are all facing charges of first-degree murder and robbery. Runyen said he couldn’t disclose any information in relation to the robbery charge of the case. He also couldn’t release identifying information about the 16-year-old arrested, but his name may become available if the Sutter County District Attorney charges him as an adult, he said.

Police have said they don’t believe the shooting was gangrelated. Jeremiah’s next court appearance is scheduled for May 17.

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