Returning salmon numbers smash records

Associated Press

VANCOUVER, Wash. — This year has been a record-breaker for salmon and steelhead runs on the Columbia River — and not by small numbers.

The returns shattered records dating back to construction of Bonneville Dam in 1938, exceeding what most fishery experts believed possible in the Columbia and Snake rivers — and there could be more of the same in 2002.

The fish benefited from a rare convergence of exceptional streamflows for outgoing juveniles in the late 1990s with a highly productive Pacific Ocean, rebounding from El Nino conditions.

The standout run was upper Columbia spring chinook, which bring the highest per-pound price for commercial fishermen.

At Bonneville Dam, the spring chinook count rose from 10,200 fish in 1995 to 417,000 last spring, shattering the old record of 280,400 in 1972. Recreational fishing was allowed in April for the first time since 1977.

Robin Maahs of Battle Ground, one of the thousands of anglers who took advantage, said he made eight to 10 trips and averaged two chinook a trip for the three anglers in his boat.

"It was absolutely awesome," Maahs said.

Summer steelhead returns were even larger, 630,000 fish, the highest since counting began at Bonneville in 1938.

The old single-day steelhead record, almost 9,400 in July 1955, was exceeded several times this summer with 14 daily counts over 10,000, including 14,400 on Aug. 3.

"We had days with four or five fish in the boat," said Jay Ross of Tualatin, Ore., who anchored off Frenchmen’s Bar near Vancouver in late July and August to fish for steelhead.

"I never thought I’d see 417,000 spring chinook and 630,000 summer steelhead," said Steve King, salmon manager for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, started his career 30 years ago on the Columbia.

"I’d say the spring chinook number is the most striking thing about this year. We’ve seen 400,000 summer steelhead, but nothing even close on spring chinook," King said.

Fall chinook returns were 520,000 fish, compared with a forecast of 292,000. Coho numbers are incomplete, but it appears about 1.1 million fish returned to the Columbia, the best return since 1991.

Roger Waite of Gresham, Ore., went out with three friends this summer, 15 to 20 years after his last fishing trip off the northern Oregon and southern Washington coast.

"We caught 43 salmon in about two hours, maybe less," Waite said. "It was early in the season and we decided we’d turn loose everything that wasn’t bleeding. We’d have three on at a time. It was just a riot."

Scientists say 2002 may be almost as good.

State biologists forecast a return of 333,700 spring chinook to areas upstream from Bonneville, which would be the second highest on record. A big fall chinook run also is expected, but coho numbers are expected to be lower.

"If we can see the Columbia River operated for maximum survival benefits, if the water’s there, it can happen again," King said. "The ocean’s going to be in good shape periodically.

"What’s different from the pre-1970s is the hatchery system as mitigation for the dams is all built up now. With the right conditions in the river and in the ocean, yeah, we can enjoy this again."