RIGGINS, Idaho — About 1.2 million newly hatched Chinook salmon died at the Rapid River Fish Hatchery near Riggins because of an oxygen pump malfunction.

The inch-long salmon accounted for one-third of the hatchery's annual production. They would have been released to migrate to the ocean in spring 2027 and not return until 2030.

Idaho Fish and Game (IDFG) said hatchery managers will work with other facilities in an attempt to reduce the impact on future fisheries.

Staff at the fish hatchery detected the malfunction of a pump used to supply oxygenated water to the early rearing and incubation building on Nov. 18.

The alarm system connected to the pump, which would usually warn staff of a pump failure, also failed. Staff turned on a secondary pump, but the brief lapse in water flow led

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