I have never seen such determination. The Chinook Salmon have returned to spawn, but with most of their natural spawning areas lost by the creation of Folsom and Nimbus Dams, the California Department of Fish and Game created the Nimbus Fish Hatchery to mitigate the problem.

I’ve given you many links to read about this amazing fish hatchery, and I do hope you read more. To summarize, the salmon eggs are gathered at the hatchery, hatched and let loose down river when the fish are old enough. The cycle comes full circle when the mature salmon come to complete their life cycle, trying to find their spawning spot. They operate on such instinct that they are persistent as they jump the ladders.

It is an amazing site to see. Take a look!

This is one of several tries for this fish to jump through the hole.

Although he was facing the water coming at him, he finally made it.

This salmon looks at a possible place to jump over the ladder.

This is a good effort.

This is better.

Got to jump a little higher.

Totally out of the water, but not quite high enough.

This is where the young salmon are kept before they are released into the river.

Tight quarters.

Can you see the photographer?

Water is pumped in at a certain temperature to simulate the river.

A young girl feeds the fish.

This is how the fish are actually fed.

A blue heron is fishing along the American River.

Looks like he got something.