SMWC Plays Role in Record Year for Fish Food on Floodplain Farm Fields Program

Sutter Mutual landowners put 3,000 acres into extended winter flooding as part of the Fish Food on Floodplain Farm Fields program. Across the Sacramento Valley, 59,000 acres were flooded up and drained to produce 147,500 lbs of food – a record amount.

The draining process has concluded across the district, so growers can now let their fields dry out and start preparing for spring groundwork. 

The fish food 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.

Watch the program in action in this ABC 10 Report: https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/california/california-rice-fields-salmon-migration/103-e2387af5-e160-4f81-9244-eaebe3e2473b