Salmon recovery in the San Joaquin River is best understood through documented milestones tied to long-term restoration work. Two such milestones highlight recent, measurable progress.

One major step forward is the start of the Sack Dam Fish Passage Project, led by the San Joaquin River Restoration Program.

Sack Dam has long limited upstream fish movement. The new fish passage facility is designed to improve migration conditions for adult Chinook salmon, increasing access to upstream habitats and restoring connectivity along the river as part of a coordinated restoration strategy.

At the same time, monitoring data show a biological response. In 2025, restoration program biologists documented 448 adult Chinook salmon returning to the San Joaquin River system. These counts, based on standardized monitoring methods, include both hatchery-origin and naturally produced fish.

While these numbers do not represent population recovery, they indicate that restored flows and improved migration pathways are supporting adult returns at levels not seen prior to restoration.

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, working with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and National Marine Fisheries Service, emphasizes that recovery will require sustained effort over many years. For the Fresno Aquarium, these milestones reflect steady, science-based progress toward our shared goal of reconnecting our community with its river.