The Nimbus Fish Hatchery, a longtime regional hub for fish conservation and education along the American River, will close its visitor center, fish ponds and parking lot beginning July 1 due to budget constraints, officials announced Friday. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife, which operates the hatchery, shared the news in a statement posted to social media. The closure, they said, is due to “reductions in funding” and will remain in effect until further notice. … It was originally constructed to offset habitat losses caused by the development of the Folsom-Nimbus water project, which severely limited access to upstream spawning areas for anadromous fish. The Nimbus Hatchery raises Chinook salmon and steelhead trout, releasing them into the American River annually. Its visitor center and adjacent fish ponds have long served as an educational destination for school groups and nature enthusiasts, especially during the fall spawning season.

Other anadromous fish news:

• California WaterBlog: Bull trout and other endemic fishes: McCloud River 
• California Department of Water Resources: News release: Spring-run chinook salmon mortality in the Feather River
• Southern Illinois University: News release: SIU scientists examine how pesticides may impair Chinook salmon