Nathan Frandino

SAN GERONIMO (Calif.) – Farmers and urban planners welcomed the heavy rains which flooded California in late 2013.

Preston Brown, Director of Watershed Conservation for Salmon Protection and Watershed Network (SPAWN), stated that fish have been seen in areas they hadn’t been in for nearly 25 years.

According to National Weather Service data, California experienced more precipitation in October and December than any other 12 months.

In time for November-to January spawning season, the abundance of snow and rain in Tomales Bay north of San Francisco allowed some fish to reach the Lagunitas Creek tributaries at least 13 mi (20 km) inland.

Experts claim that fish found upstream were seen a mile from the San Geronimo Creek Dam, which was built less than one year ago.

It could just be an interruption in the state’s 20-year-long drought. The water authorities have struggled to maintain supply for fish farms, growing cities and farmers. Experts suggest that the state requires several rainy years to replenish its reservoirs.

The fish have been laying eggs and are now able to spend the majority of their young lives in the nests. The fish will swim to the ocean to become adults and return to the same spot to spawn later.

Todd Steiner, Executive Director of Turtle Island Restoration Network (parent group to SPAWN), stated that “they like these very small streams, which is where their survival rate is highest.” The fish will return to you if they have a fighting chance of survival.