Chinook & Steelhead returns to Bonneville Dam, 5/17/17

Chinook

As of 5/15/17, the current and recent past counts of Spring Chinook Salmon that have passed Bonneville dam and entered the Columbia River system are:

2017:  33,798

2016:  109,650

10 yr avg:  124,691

It appeared that the run had finally started to take off, but then river flows spiked and salmon returns slowed.  Now, Washington State fisheries managers have closed fishing on the Snake River due to low numbers and a slashed forecast for returns.

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Steelhead

As of 5/15/17, the current and recent past counts of Steelhead are:

2017:  2,741

2016: 4,286

10-yr avg:  4,410

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All data is from the Fish Passage Center website (fpc.org)

While what seem to be impressive numbers of fish return to the Columbia River basin today, be aware that historically 17 MILLION salmon returned to the Columbia River each year.

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More info on the fisheries closure

WDFW FISHING RULE CHANGE  
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091
http://wdfw.wa.gov

May 16, 2017

Snake River spring chinook fisheries to close

Action: Closes the chinook fishery on the Snake River.

Species affected: Spring chinook salmon.

Effective date: Immediately.

Locations:

1. Below Ice Harbor Dam: Snake River from the South Bound Highway 12 Bridge near Pasco upstream about 7 miles to the fishing restriction boundary below Ice Harbor Dam;
2. Below Little Goose Dam: Snake River from Texas Rapids boat launch (south side of the river upstream of the mouth of Tucannon River) to the fishing restriction boundary below Little Goose Dam. This zone includes the rock and concrete area between the juvenile bypass return pipe and Little Goose Dam along the south shoreline of the facility (includes the walkway area locally known as “the Wall” in front of the juvenile collection facility);
3. Clarkston: Snake River from the downstream edge of the large power lines crossing the Snake River (just upstream from West Evans Road on the south shore) upstream about 3.5 miles to the Washington state line (from the east levee of the Greenbelt boat launch in Clarkston northwest across the Snake River to the WA / ID boundary waters marker on the Whitman County shore).

Reason for action: The spring chinook run size was downgraded from 160,400 to 83,000. This extreme drop in run size requires WDFW to close this fishery immediately.

Information Contact: Jeremy Trump, District 3 Fish Biologist, (509) 382-1005.