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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

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Clearwater steelhead go belly up below Dworshak Dam

In this 2008 photo, the spillways of Dworshak Dam churn out excess water in Clearwater County, Idaho. (Barry Kough / Associated Press)
In this 2008 photo, the spillways of Dworshak Dam churn out excess water in Clearwater County, Idaho. (Barry Kough / Associated Press)

FISHING -- During the past week, approximately 200 dead adult steelhead have been discovered in the tailrace just below the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Dworshak Dam on the North Fork of the Clearwater River.

Corps officials say the exact cause of the mortalities is still under investigation, "but initial information points to steelhead injuries associated with non-routine upgrades of the Dam’s turbine unit 2, specifically new digital governor commissioning."

"The Corps had requested an assessment from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staff at Dworshak Fish Hatchery, which found the steelhead mortalities were likely caused by contact with structural features of the turbine unit."



Rich Landers
Rich Landers joined The Spokesman-Review in 1977. He is the Outdoors editor for the Sports Department writing and photographing stories about hiking, hunting, fishing, boating, conservation, nature and wildlife and related topics.

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