Upper Columbia Steelhead Ban Leaves Businesses High And Dry

Businesses here are feeling the pinch from the sudden closure last month of the upper Columbia River and its tributaries to steelhead fishing.

“It’s basically a disaster for the whole area,” said Arnold Asmussen, owner of the Pateros Super Stop. “Our RV spots were booked solid for three months. Now they’ve all canceled.”

The state Department of Fish and Wildlife closure on Sept. 20 followed the National Marine Fisheries Service decision Aug. 11 to list steelhead as an endangered species. Steelhead season, during which fishermen are only allowed to keep hatchery stock with clipped adipose fins, would have closed Oct. 17 normally.

The department took action in order to remain as lead agency for enforcing the Endangered Species Act rather than let the federal authorities take over, said Bruce Sanford, steelhead resource manager for the state agency.

“I think in the long run it will come out better not to have the National Marine Fisheries come in and mandate closures,” Sanford said.

Fish runs through Priest Rapids Dam have fallen from 13,700 fish in 1992 to 8,639 this year. A decade ago, fish runs ranged from 20,000 to 35,000.

Now the businesses in Pateros and other fishing towns are feeling the losses of tourists.

Usually packed with boats from mid-September through mid-November, the Methow and Columbia rivers are now empty except for an occasional duck paddling by.

“As far as our business is concerned, it was devastating,” said Mary Harris at Pateros Ace Hardware. “Our fishing gear sales are down about 75 percent. It was just getting going when they closed it.”

She had to deal with angry fishermen who had purchased their fishing licenses and punch cards, costing $36.50, the day before steelhead fishing was closed because the dealers and game warden didn’t know about the pending closure.

“It was sure quick and unfair to those who had bought their tags,” said Dale Parks of Pateros, who usually fishes every other evening during steelhead season. “If it does do what it’s supposed to do, which is enhance the fisheries, then it’s OK to close it. But we wouldn’t have bought our tags.”

Lake Pateros Motor Inn Manager Jerry Roe said business was down 35 percent for the month of October.

“If the motels are not full, your restaurants are not going to be busy at night. It just affects everybody.”