Starting Monday, July 18, and running through July 31, the Columbia from Bonneville down to the Astoria-Megler Bridge will be closed for Chinook and sockeye retention as will the water from that dam upstream to the Highway 395 bridge in the Tri-Cities for sockeye.
Columbia River salmon managers made the decision this afternoon.
Beforehand, a memo from ODFW and WDFW staffers pointed out that a total of 5,668 summer kings have been caught in the sport fishery below Bonneville since June 16, “much better than recent years, and the fishery has continued strong into July.”
“Based on the current run forecast (80,000) and agreements with the Colville Tribe, the sport fishery downstream from Bonneville Dam has an allocation of about 3,800 summer Chinook,” it says.
COLUMBIA RIVER JOINT STATE NOTICE
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife July 15, 2011
At a Joint State hearing today, the states took the following action:
2011 Recreational Salmon Fishery – Below Bonneville Dam
Closed for sockeye and adult Chinook retention effective Monday July 18 through July 31, 2011 in the area from the Astoria Megler Bridge upstream to Bonneville Dam. All other permanent regulations remain in place.
2011 Recreational Sockeye Fishery – Above Bonneville Dam
Closed for sockeye retention effective Monday July 18 through July 31, 2011 in the area from the Bonneville Dam upstream to the Highway 395 Bridge near Pasco, Washington. All other permanent regulations remain in place.
FUTURE MEETINGS
A Compact hearing is scheduled for 10 AM Thursday July 28 at the Holiday Inn (204 West Marine Dr.) in Astoria, Oregon.
Officials also explained:
- Closing the fishery downstream from Bonneville Dam for Chinook retention will provide assurance that upriver recreational and tribal fisheries will not be constrained.
- Combined non-Indian fisheries (including Colville and Wanapum tribal fisheries) are not expected to exceed the total non-Indian allocation of 19,711 summer Chinook.
- The escapement goal of 20,000 summer Chinook over Priest Rapids Dam is expected to be exceeded.
- Closing fisheries downstream from the mouth of the Snake River to the retention of sockeye is necessary because the non-Indian limit for sockeye has been reached.
- Fall Chinook fisheries will open as scheduled on August 1.
July 15, 2011 at 1:53 pm |
No effect on the summer steelhead fishery though correct?
July 15, 2011 at 1:55 pm |
Correct, no effect. Here is the rule change notice in full:
COLUMBIA RIVER JOINT STATE NOTICE
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife July 15, 2011
At a Joint State hearing today, the states took the following action:
2011 Recreational Salmon Fishery – Below Bonneville Dam
Closed for sockeye and adult Chinook retention effective Monday July 18 through July 31, 2011 in the area from the Astoria Megler Bridge upstream to Bonneville Dam. All other permanent regulations remain in place.
2011 Recreational Sockeye Fishery – Above Bonneville Dam
Closed for sockeye retention effective Monday July 18 through July 31, 2011 in the area from the Bonneville Dam upstream to the Highway 395 Bridge near Pasco, Washington. All other permanent regulations remain in place.
FUTURE MEETINGS
A Compact hearing is scheduled for 10 AM Thursday July 28 at the Holiday Inn (204 West Marine Dr.) in Astoria, Oregon.