Oregon and Washington fish hatcheries seem like low-hanging fruit these days.
They face a litany of challenges, many based on lawsuits falsely (albeit well-intentioned) accusing hatchery fish of interfering-with and out-competing wild salmon and steelhead.
(And there’s bitter irony in the fact fish managers, mostly in Washington, are looking at hatchery chinook salmon production as a key to rescuing orcas from extinction.)
The latest slap in our collective face is an announcement from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers it doesn’t have nearly $1 million in last year’s budget to meet mitigation requirements for its Willamette system dams.
The loss – which Congress can’t cover in a new budget – would mean elimination of the popular summer steelhead fishery in the upper Willamette, loss of a chunk of spring chinook salmon production, 172,000 smolts and, most significant, a reduction of 65% in trout stocking in the Willamette Valley.
“Trout is our bread and butter,” said Shaun Clements, deputy administrator for inland fisheries for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.
The number of trout anglers across the state – and the valley has the majority of them – dwarf salmon and steelhead tag holders.
Even more important, reducing the opportunity for families and children to experience the fun of fishing and getting outside near water simply encourages even greater use of earbuds, headsets, smartphones and electronics that don’t care a whit about habitat, restoration or the environment.
There’s no future out here without them.
Reductions also may mean summer steelhead currently being grown will be euthanized if funds aren’t found.
And all you spring chinook anglers in the lower Willamette should take note of anything that will reduce your future success. Most of those hatchery fish you’re trying to take home were released upriver.
It’s happened before. Years ago, those in Washington, D.C. annually fired off proposed budgets without funding hatcheries, then added back those that complained the most.
Clements and others are worried this time, however, it’s not only more serious, but could set some unpleasant precedents.
Fortunately, there’s a strong spine behind the angst.
Corps mitigation for the loss of spawning habitat due to its dams is a requirement.
Even more than that, though, is the wave of support from the states’ congressional delegations. It would be far preferable to enlist Capitol Hill muscle rather than go to court.
Liz Hamilton, policy advisor for the Northwest Sportfishing Industry Association, has the contacts and is doing most of the heavy lifting with state and congressional staffs.
“It’s clear that our governor and federal elected officials care about Willamette Valley fisheries and the corps of engineers obligation,” she said, expressing “a lot of confidence we can build this back up again.
“We want to make sure the Corps right-sizes their commitment to the Willamette system.”
Hamilton and others urge anglers to participate in an Action Alert that enables letters to be written to their congressional representatives and senators.
It requires writers to list information, email, address, etc., but is the only way to ensure the letter automatically goes to your congressional district representative.
And a personal letter carries much more weight than a form, she said.
“Be polite and personal. Tell them why this is important to you.”
Don’t wait: Until the last minute to apply for a controlled hunt for big game. Everyone else will and you’ll just waste time being angry at them (and yourself).
The deadline is May 15.
There are no lines right now, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s website isn’t jammed and, perhaps best of all, it will give you more time to make corrections (change deadline is May 25).
The department has added a new feature for party hunters. After applying, you’ll be able to see not only other party members’ points but also what entire party’s points will be.
Hopefully they won’t wait until the last minute either.
Short casts: Oregon’s spring turkey hunting season opens Monday, but David Duell of Astoria had his too-close encounter in early April. Duell, a professional truck driver, was southbound on Interstate 5 in Douglas County when a turkey flew through his windshield, severely injuring and knocking him out. Fortunately, his three-trailer load didn’t veer into traffic. He’s recovering at home, but friends and family have begun a GoFundMe to help with his medical bills...Washington has improved its “Fish Washington” app for smartphone users, who will find it much easier to look up regulations, locations, licensing and other information...Idaho’s chronic wasting disease outbreak is creeping closer to the state’s border with Oregon along the Snake River. Intentional culling of deer, much of it within about 10 miles of the Snake in February turned up a 10% incidence of CWD in removed animals.
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