Oncorynchus tshawytscha
The winter-run chinook is listed as Endangered by both the State of California and the Federal Government
Life History
The Chinook salmon is the largest of the salmon species. They are found from Northern Alaska to Central California on the
North American coast and from Northern Japan to the Bering Sea on the east coast of
Asia. The spawning populations in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Rivers are the
southernmost range af the species, and the Sacramento River and its tributaries is
the only system in the world which supports four separate races (runs) of chinook
which use the system for spawning year round. These are the fall, late-fall, winter
and spring runs. The San Joaquin River and its tributaries support a fall run of
chinook salmon.
| RACE | MIGRATORY RUN | SPAWNING PERIOD |
|---|
| |
|---|
| Fall | July-December | October-December |
| late Fall | late October-April | January-April |
| Winter | December-July | April-July |
| Spring | April-October | August-October |
|
