California tries giant water coolers to save fish

California’s young fish are getting a little relief from the state’s heat: giant water coolers.

State fish and wildlife officials say they are installing the water chillers at the American River hatchery near Sacramento after the water there grew too warm for young trout in particular. At the Shasta Dam, federal wildlife officials installed the water coolers earlier this summer to benefit endangered winter-run salmon.

Warm water in the state’s third year of drought forced both hatcheries to give the giant water coolers a try. John McManus, head of the Golden State Salmon Association, is warning that California may lose an entire generation of salmon if authorities don’t give baby fish the cool water they need to survive.

Commercial and recreational fishing is a $1.4 billion industry in California.