Fish Food Program Suspended for Winter of 2025-2026

Unfortunately, there will not be a Fish Food Program this year due to limited funding. We’re hopeful that the program will receive support through NRCS in the future. In the meantime, we’re continuing to work closely with our federal partners to secure funding for the winter of 2026-2027 should NRCS not fund it for a second straight year. This will look similar to how the bird programs are funded.

In 2024, Sutter Mutual Water Company was awarded funding to cover 3,000 acres for the Fish Food on Floodplain Farm Fields program. For those unaware, the program is designed to take advantage of post-harvest flooded rice fields, as when the remaining rice straw decomposes, it leads to the production of billions of bugs. This food source is perfect to help fish bulk up as they head to the Pacific Ocean. California Trout and UC Davis studies reveal bigger fish have a better chance of surviving in the river and ultimately are more likely to return and spawn as adults.