Organization
California Department of Fish and Wildlife
TL;DR
The monitoring teams that count returning coho across roughly 500 miles of Mendocino Coast habitat are led by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
This is California's state wildlife agency. Its About page names programs from Free Fishing Days to the California Natural Diversity Database, and it works through regional offices across the state.
On the Mendocino Coast its crews visit randomly selected stream reaches every two weeks through the spawning season, counting adult fish and the gravel nests called redds. NOAA Fisheries pays for that work.
Why OGSP Recommends It
One Good Story Project recommends the California Department of Fish and Wildlife because its field teams provide the data needed to understand whether coho salmon recovery efforts are working. With funding from NOAA Fisheries, department-led teams monitor roughly 500 miles of Mendocino Coast habitat. During spawning season, they return to selected sections of stream every two weeks to count adult salmon and their nests, known as redds.
That work helped document the record return of approximately 30,000 adult coho. Senior environmental scientist Sarah Gallagher also appeared in Trout Unlimited’s 2025 film, helping viewers understand the work behind the numbers.
Related Resources
Ways To Get Involved
Read the department's own updates at wildlife.ca.gov.
Key Takeaways
- NOAA Fisheries reported 30,000 adult coho returning in the 2024 to 2025 season, against a decade average near 3,000.
- Sarah Gallagher, a senior environmental scientist here, appears in the Trout Unlimited film shot on the South Fork Noyo River.
- Runs public accounts on Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the California Department of Fish and Wildlife do?
It is responsible for California's fish, wildlife and plant habitat. On the north coast that includes leading the salmon spawning surveys, which NOAA Fisheries funds.
Who is Sarah Gallagher of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife?
She is a senior environmental scientist with the department. NOAA Fisheries quoted her in March 2026. “Finding them in places where they have not been was really exciting,” she said.
Which agencies and groups worked on the Mendocino coho recovery?
Good News Network reported a coalition of NOAA, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Trout Unlimited, timber companies, The Nature Conservancy, local tribes and other groups. NOAA Fisheries says it has funded more than 100 restoration projects in the area since 2000.
Where can I follow the California Department of Fish and Wildlife?
Its Connect page links Facebook at facebook.com/CaliforniaDFW, Instagram at instagram.com/californiadfw, X at x.com/CaliforniaDFW and YouTube at youtube.com/CaliforniaDFG. The department's main site is wildlife.ca.gov.