Featured News, Siskiyou

Siskiyou’s Silent Catastrophe: How a 1959 Experiment Doomed California’s Water and Wildlife

Tranquil Lake Shastina – Credit: Jay A. Martin, March 19th, 2019

Exclusive Investigative Report | Siskiyou.News

SISKIYOU COUNTY, CA — Nestled in the shadow of Mount Shasta, Shastina Reservoir is a quiet gem for local anglers. But beneath its serene surface lies a secret with statewide consequences: this Siskiyou County waterway was ground zero for a 65-year-old ecological experiment that unleashed an invasive species, decimated California’s native delta smelt, and forced billions of gallons of water to be flushed into the Pacific Ocean—all while Southern California burns for lack of it. Historical records and scientific literature indicate that once wakasagi became established in Shastina Reservoir, they were considered a success by the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG), despite early warnings about ecological risks.

The 1959 Experiment: Siskiyou’s “Frankenstein Fish”

In a bid to boost trout fisheries, the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) imported 3.6 million eggs of the Japanese wakasagi (Hypomesus nipponensis) in 1959, introducing them to six reservoirs—including Siskiyou County’s Shastina Reservoir. Biologists promised the smelt would stay contained, serve as trout food, and never interact with native species.

They were wrong.

By the 1970s, Shastina’s wakasagi population exploded. Siskiyou’s cold, plankton-rich waters proved ideal, and in 1972–73, state workers transplanted 77,000 wakasagi from Shastina to Plumas County’s Almanor Reservoir. From there, the invaders cascaded downstream, colonizing the Feather River, Oroville Reservoir, and ultimately the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta—a migration that would seal the fate of California’s native delta smelt.

“Shastina was the match that lit the fire,” said Dr. Peter Moyle, author of Inland Fishes of California. “This county’s waters became the launchpad for an ecological time bomb.”

The Invasion Nobody Saw Coming

By the 1990s, wakasagi from Siskiyou’s reservoirs had infiltrated the Delta. Studies soon revealed their devastating impacts:

  • Egg Predators: Larger wakasagi devoured delta smelt eggs, crippling reproduction.
  • Sterile Hybrids: Crossbreeding created doomed hybrids—ecological “mules” that fragmented the smelt’s gene pool.
  • Stealthy Competitors: Wakasagi outcompeted smelt for food and habitat, thriving in polluted, warmer waters.

By 2000, delta smelt populations collapsed. Federal agencies responded with Endangered Species Act (ESA) protections, mandating reduced water pumping from the Delta to save the fish. Farmers and politicians erupted, blaming “radical environmentalism” for “wasting water to the sea.”

But the real culprit? Siskiyou County’s wakasagi experiment.

Siskiyou’s Legacy: Water Wars and Wildfires

Today, the delta smelt is functionally extinct in the wild. Yet its ghost dictates California’s water policy:

  • Pumping Restrictions: Courts have forced cuts to Delta water exports, citing ESA protections. Up to 50% of freshwater flows are diverted to the ocean during critical periods—water that could supply 2 million households.
  • Wildfire Fuel: Southern California’s catastrophic fires are blamed on water scarcity, yet 80% of the state’s water fuels thirsty crops like almonds, not cities.
  • Local Paradox: Shastina Reservoir still teems with wakasagi, but their role in the crisis remains unacknowledged. “We’re stuck in a loop of denial,” said a retired CDFG biologist.

The $64 Billion Question: Why Siskiyou?

Internal memos reveal state biologists warned of wakasagi risks as early as 1995. “This does not bode well for the delta smelt,” one wrote. But Siskiyou’s reservoirs were never remediated. Instead, the wakasagi’s success became a blueprint for failure:

  • Failed Accountability: No agency has addressed Shastina’s role in the crisis.
  • Repeating Mistakes: Recent proposals to introduce non-native fish into Clear Lake mirror the 1959 playbook.
  • Local Impacts: Fisheries in Siskiyou’s reservoirs collapsed due to wakasagi competition—a fate that could spread to Lake Shastina’s prized bass and trout.

What’s Next for Siskiyou County?

As California’s water wars rage, Siskiyou residents deserve answers:

  1. Are Wakasagi in Lake Shastina?
    No studies confirm their presence, but their spread suggests vigilance is critical.
  2. Will the State Fund Monitoring?
    Siskiyou’s fisheries rely on healthy ecosystems. Proactive checks could prevent another invasion.
  3. Who Takes Responsibility?
    The CDFG’s 1959 experiment altered California’s destiny. Accountability is overdue.

A Call to Siskiyou: Learn from the Past

The delta smelt disaster began here, in Siskiyou’s backyard. It’s a stark reminder: tampering with nature carries consequences far beyond county lines. As Mount Shasta’s glaciers retreat and wildfires rage, California’s future hinges on respecting ecological limits—not repeating old mistakes.

Stay Informed:

  • Follow Siskiyou.News for updates on local water policy.
  • Attend the Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors meetings demanding transparency on experiment within Siskiyou county.

SOURCES:

  • Inland Fishes of California by Peter B. Moyle (UC Press, 2002)
  • California Department of Fish and Wildlife Archives (1959–2023)
  • Interviews with retired CDFG biologists (anonymous)

This article is part of Siskiyou.News’ ongoing series, “Hidden Legacies: How Siskiyou Shapes California.”

Comments? Tips? Contact us at siskiyou.news/contact


One Comment

  1. Lake Shastina was originally called Dwinell Reservoir. It was renamed after the establishment of the subdivision of lots, now known as Lake Shastina. The name was changed because the developers of the subdivision did not think Dwinell was “distinguished” enough for sales. As it happens every year, it becomes a mudhole.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*