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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Few sockeye reach Idaho

The Spokesman-Review

STANLEY, Idaho – Fisheries biologists are concerned that only 22 adult sockeye salmon returned to their central Idaho spawning area near the headwaters of the Salmon River this year.

While seven times higher than a year ago, the number still reflects only 25 percent of the 110 adult sockeye counted earlier this summer crossing Lower Granite Dam in Eastern Washington.

That is the last dam on the Snake River blocking the 900-mile return salmon make from the Pacific Ocean to their spawning grounds in the Stanley Basin.

Biologists said that typically at least 50 percent of the fish crossing Lower Granite make what they call the conversion to the Stanley Basin and the rate was as high as 80 percent four years ago.

While the plunge to just 25 percent in recent years is significant, the return even at a higher level is limited, considering that is all that is left of the 75,000 young sockeye salmon sent downriver in 2002.

Fisheries Research Biologist Catherine Willard with the state Fish and Game Department said as many adult fish as possible will be evaluated to find out why the rate has plunged.

“We need to examine as many sockeye salmon adults as we can this year to try to better understand what is causing the low conversion,” she said.

– Associated Press