Washington State Salmon Recovery Report: Most Populations Not Making Progress, Some On Path To Extinction
January 15th, 2021
A new report from Washington State’s Governor’s Salmon Recovery Office shows that most salmon populations in the state still are not making progress and some are teetering on the brink of extinction.
Idaho’s ‘Salmon Workgroup’ Submits Policy Recommendations To Governor; No Consensus On Dam-Breaching
January 8th, 2021
The state of Idaho’s “Salmon Workgroup” last week released a final report that includes policy recommendations for Gov. Brad Little to consider that aim “to restore abundant, sustainable, and well distributed populations of salmon and steelhead in Idaho for present and future generations, while recognizing diverse interests throughout the State.”
Guest Column: Gorton Amendment To NW Power Act Moved Goal Posts, Created New Ones Slowing Tribal Programs To Restore Wild Salmon Runs
January 8th, 2021
Approval of the Yakama Nation Hatchery Master Plan by the Northwest Power and Conservation Council on December 6th was a long-awaited step towards restoring wild salmon runs above Bonneville Dam. . . 38 years to be exact. Why did it take so long?
Council Approves $41 Million Yakama Nation Hatchery Master Plan Aimed At Boosting Coho, Chinook Harvest, Steelhead Kelt Reconditioning
December 17th, 2020
The Northwest Power and Conservation Council Wednesday approved a $41 million Yakama Nation hatchery master plan aimed at increasing harvest of coho and chinook salmon in both the mainstem Columbia River and Yakima River.
Yakama Nation Plan For Boosting Salmon Numbers, Juvenile Survival Moves A Step Forward; Would Increase Fall/Summer Chinook Hatchery Releases By 1.1 Million
November 20th, 2020
Only about 25 percent of salmon and steelhead smolts produced in the Yakima River basin make it to McNary Dam on the Columbia River. Spring chinook do better than that, but poor survival of juvenile fall and summer chinook drag that number down.
States’ Fish/Wildlife Managers Detail September Fire Damage To Hatcheries, Wildlife Mitigation Areas
November 20th, 2020
The wildfires that ripped through Oregon and Washington in September, burning over one million acres, inflicted serious damage and destruction to fish and wildlife mitigation resources, notably Oregon hatcheries.
Columbia Basin Partnership Releases Final Report Stressing Urgency In Addressing Salmon, Steelhead Recovery
October 30th, 2020
The Columbia Basin Partnership Task Force released late this afternoon its final report saying there is “a strong sense of urgency that immediate action is needed to address salmon and steelhead declines in the Columbia River Basin.”
96,000 Juvenile Steelhead Removed From Production After IHN Virus Detected At Idaho Hatchery
October 30th, 2020
In response to detection of IHN virus, Idaho Fish and Game hatchery staff at Magic Valley Fish Hatchery last week removed approximately 96,000 juvenile B-run steelhead from production. The IHN virus is not uncommon in southern Idaho fish, but the strain of the virus detected in the fish at the Magic Valley Hatchery is not known to be native to the area.
NW States Agree To ‘Define A Future Collaborative Framework’ For Achieving Abundance Goals For Columbia Basin Salmon/Steelhead
October 15th, 2020
In a letter Friday (Oct.9) the four Northwest states announced they have agreed to work together to rebuild Columbia River salmon and steelhead stocks and to advance the goals of the Columbia Basin Partnership Task Force.