Recent reports by UC Santa Cruz and others have demonstrated that only ten percent of salmon returning to the Mokelumne River are wild. The balance or majority are hatchery raised. The studies report that many hatchery fish are unmarked and thus require scientific evaluation to determine their origin. Scientists have developed a method to examine the growth pattern of the otolith of fish to determine if they are hatchery or wild raised. Hatchery fish receive more food as fry and thus produce more and smoother growth rings in the otolith. This study of course has implications to all of our California salmonid rivers. See the following link to read the whole story:
http://news.ucsc.edu/2012/02/hatchery-salmon.html
El Dorado County farmers are joining a fish friendly movement which started in the Napa Valley. The movement is designed to make farmers and consumers aware of a farm's actions to improve water quality and fish habitat. Actions were taken to reduce the potential for damaging runoff to streams. Farmers are publicising the program to improve their environmental image. See the complete story in the Sacramento Bee at
http://www.sacbee.com/2012/01/16/4190533/el-dorado-joins-napa-sonoma-mendocino.html