Field Reports

FISHING

Pikeminnow cash crop

2005 was another banner year for anglers cashing in on the reward program for northern pikeminnows on the Snake and Columbia rivers. The season started in May and ended Sept. 25.

The Bonneville Power Administration reports paying more than $1.5 million in rewards to anglers who turned in 240,955 northern pikeminnows to the agency’s predator control program. The anglers were paid $5-$8 a fish.

This year’s catch is down from last year’s record catch of 267,213 pikeminnows. The second-best year was 244,032 in 1996.

More than 2.6 million pikeminnows, formerly known as squawfish, have been killed since the program was started in 1990 as a measure to mitigate the impacts of dams on migrating salmon.

Salmon and steelhead smolts evolved to migrate downstream in free-flowing rivers. The slackwater pools behind dams leave them more vulnerable to predatory fish.

Program managers estimate that reducing the number of native pikeminnows has saved four to six million juvenile salmon a year.

The top 25 participating anglers have been earning $5,000 to $35,000 after collecting their rewards, agency officials said.

Rich Landers

MOUNT SPOKANE PARK

Summit road re-opened

Responding to a barrage of complaints, Mount Spokane State Park re-opened the road to the mountain’s summit last weekend shortly after announcing it was closed for the season.

“I wanted to close it to prevent any stray hunters from thinking they could go up there, but I really underestimated how many mountain bikers and other visitors like to drive up that road this time of year,” said Steven Christensen, park manager.

Starting this year, the road will routinely be gated for the season on the last Sunday of October, he said.

Rich Landers

WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT

FWS director confirmed

H. Dale Hall was confirmed last week by the U.S. Senate to be director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Hall replaces Steve Williams, who resigned to become president of the Wildlife Management Institute.

Hall joined the agency in 1978 as a field ecologist working on wetlands in Mississippi. He’s been the FWS regional director in Atlanta, the assistant regional director for ecological services in Portland, and deputy assistant director for fisheries in Washington, D.C. Most recently, he’s been the Southwest regional director in Albuquerque since 2001.

Rich Landers