75 percent of the return and the remaining spawners could still match

their parents’ return rate. Unfortunately, a variety of factors in-river
and in the ocean affect the rate of return
Still, the 1999 return is just slightly half of the 10-year average
return of 66,000. The historic range (1938 to 1998) has been from 50,000
to 270,000. From 1950 to 1975 the spring chinook return as consistently
above 140,000. Since 1975 counts have been consistently below 100,000.
“But it’s good news that out of those extremely low broods we go this
kind of return,” …

Read the Full Article

Login to your account or Become a Member

More news from CBB: