Sockeye Salmon Return In Big Numbers
A decade after the Snake River sockeye salmon was placed on the federal endangered species list, the once-nearly extinct fish is returning to its central Idaho spawning grounds in the largest numbers in more than two decades.
More than 300 adult sockeye have already cleared Lower Granite Dam, the last of eight dams on the 900-mile migration from the Pacific Ocean to the Stanley Basin, and Fish and Game biologist Paul Kline said at least a third of them should make it the rest of the way.
The last time more sockeye cleared Lower Granite was in 1977.
Kline said 40 adults had already reached either Redfish Lake Creek or the Sawtooth Hatchery by Monday, and a few were still passing Lower Granite.
While the return seems paltry compared to the thousands and even tens of thousands of other salmon species migrating back to their spawning beds in the Northwest, it stands out to the years when no sockeye or just one returned. Only 23 sockeye returned to central Idaho throughout the 1990s.
Most of the returning adults, Kline said, will be released to spawn naturally in the three lakes that lie in the shadow of the Sawtooth Mountains. Up to 20, he said, may be incorporated into the spawning program at the Eagle Hatchery in southwestern Idaho.
Goose hunt changes proposed
An Eastern Washington hunting season more finely tuned for taking Canada geese will be considered by the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission next week.
State Fish and Wildlife officials already have adopted an early goose season of Sept. 9-14 with a three-goose daily limit. This season targets “local” geese.
Wildlife managers have responded to the wishes of many waterfowlers by recommending that the general goose season open with the ducks season on Oct. 7.
A season break is proposed from Oct. 28-Nov. 3. This would allow managers to make the best use of the 107 days the federal government allows the state for goose hunting by stacking extra hunting days at the end of the season in January, when the odds are best for bagging a goose.