The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today released a report that provides recommendations for salmon and steelhead propagation programs at four National Fish Hatcheries (NFH) in the Columbia River Gorge region of Washington State -- Carson, Little White Salmon, Willard and Spring Creek.
The recommendations range from reducing the number of tule fall Chinook raised at Spring Creek hatchery to terminating the release of upriver bright fall Chinook from Little White Salmon hatchery. Many other recommendations are included in the report, which is the result of more than a year of analysis. Details are available in the accompanying Questions and Answers.
"Our goal is to ensure that all National Fish Hatcheries are operated in accordance with the best scientific principles and contribute to sustainable fisheries and the conservation of naturally-spawning populations of salmon, steelhead and other aquatic species," said Dan Diggs, Assistant Regional Director of the regional fisheries program. "We will now take these recommendations to our state, tribal and federal co-managers for final approval and implementation."
The report was prepared by a Hatchery Review Team that began an analysis of the four hatcheries? operations in September 2006. The team, comprised of scientists from the Fish and Wildlife Service, other federal agencies and universities, was convened by the Services Pacific Region Fisheries Program. The final report includes the teams analysis, recommendations and comments from co-managers and the general public. Forty-two comments were received on the draft report released last August.
The report provides benefit-risk assessments and recommendations for propagation programs at Gorge national fish hatcheries funded by the Army Corps of Engineers, the Mitchell Act Program of NOAA Fisheries, and the Fisheries Program of the Fish and Wildlife Service. These facilities are responsible for maintaining populations of anadromous salmonids as mitigation for habitat and fish losses associated with the construction and operation of Lower Columbia River dams.
