Biologists Give Thumbs Up To Spawning Project

Idaho Fish and Game biologists describe the artificial spawning of spring chinook salmon near Riggins as highly successful.

The operations at the Idaho Power Co.’s Rapid River hatchery yielded 5.5 million eggs, 950,000 of which will be taken to the state’s Clearwater Hatchery at Orofino. The balance will be reared to smolts at Rapid River.

The eggs for this year’s spawning came from 1,376 female fish captured in the fish traps at Hells Canyon Dam and Rapid River.

Idaho Power biologist Paul Abbott estimates about three million smolts six inches long will be returned to the Salmon and Snake rivers in the spring of 1999 as the result of this year’s activities.

The glut of returning adults this year allowed sport fishing, while about 2,000 excess fish were placed in the Clearwater River drainage to enhance natural populations.

Idaho Power’s hatchery system is part of the company’s federal license to operate its three dams in Hells Canyon.