Lone Sockeye’s Chances ‘Really Grim’ Not Even One Endangered Fish Expected To Return; Anglers Told To Lobby Lawmakers For Help

As the debate continues over just how to restore key Northwest fish runs, experts fear not even one endangered sockeye will return to its spawning grounds in central Idaho’s Redfish Lake.

“It’s really grim,” said Sharon Kiefer, anadromous fisheries coordinator for the state Fish and Game Department, “real grim.”

The department installed the fish trap near the mouth of Redfish Lake last week to capture any sockeye that make it that far.

But so far, fish counters have tallied just one sockeye passing Lower Granite Dam, the last of eight hydroelectric dams that hinder the migration back from the ocean, and the peak of the return is now.

Meanwhile, Idaho Steelhead and Salmon Unlimited on Tuesday sent out 30,000 letters to anglers across the state, urging them to pressure the Idaho congressional delegation for real action to save the steelhead runs.

The call, which presses the delegation to oppose some congressional efforts to essentially abandon restoration, comes in the wake of indications that this year’s steelhead runs could be the worst in decades and potentially prompt the Fish and Game Commission to cancel the fishing season.

Idaho Steelhead and Salmon Unlimited Director Mitch Sanchotena said the steelhead runs are now in as dire condition as the salmon runs were several years ago when they were designated endangered.

And he urged anglers to exert all the pressure they can to make sure the same fate does not befall the steelhead.

“Unless we change that, steelhead fishing will soon be a memory,” he said. “This may sound too political, but it’s a simple fact - Idaho steelheading is doomed unless Idaho’s elected leaders fight to keep it.”

While many had expected the sockeye would die out before any significant action to restore the runs, there had been some hope that the chinook runs could be revived. But Kiefer said chinook salmon numbers are not much better.

The final count of the spring run past Lower Granite was 1,190, she said. Last year it was 3,120. And summer chinook numbers appear to be even worse, though the final count is not in.

“I wouldn’t expect the season total to exceed 700,” Kiefer said.

Just two years ago, spring chinook totaled 21,035, and the summer run was 7,889.

The single sockeye was spotted at Lower Granite on July 7, and if it continues to beat the odds it could finish the swim to Redfish Lake any day.

“It takes about a month, but this being a high year, it will probably slow it down a little bit,” said Keith Johnson, who runs the state’s sockeye breeding program.