Salmon

Northwest Tribes Maximize Steelhead Populations

Aaron Kunz — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 14:12:41 +0000

Steelhead in the Columbia River Basin are threatened. Current populations have dwindled to a fraction of the historic numbers a century ago. That has led two Northwest Indian Tribes to try something new to help this struggling fish survive. Both tribes are learning from each other along the way.

The snow is almost gone in north Idaho. But it’s still cold, almost freezing on this early morning at the Dworshak National Fish Hatchery near Orofino.

Supreme Court Lets Limits On River Mining Stand

Chris Lehman — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 13:46:50 +0000

A U.S. Supreme Court ruling Monday makes it harder for miners to gain access to Northwest rivers. Environmental groups hailed the decision as a major victory.

Study: Salmon Use Earth's Magnetic Field To Navigate Home

Ashley Ahearn — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 19:01:41 +0000

During the course of their lives some salmon travel thousands of miles - out to the open ocean to feed and mature. Then, after a few years, they head back to the exact river where they hatched, to spawn the next generation. Scientists don’t fully understand how salmon find their way home, but a new study might provide some more answers.

The answer is magnets - according to a new study in the journal Current Biology.

Seven Southern Oregon Fisheries Biologists Allege Censorship, Coercion

Amelia Templeton — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 21:05:17 +0000

Seven fish biologists working in Southern Oregon filed a scientific misconduct complaint yesterday. They say the Bureau of Reclamation plans to disband their team because their studies were unpopular.

Four different federal agencies are all working to save threatened salmon and endangered suckerfish that live in the Klamath river and Klamath lake.

Biologists with the Bureau of Reclamation say some of their fish studies had unusual results.

NOAA Hopes to Foster Ideas and Future Collaboration

Aaron Kunz — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 16:51:37 +0000

Environmentalists, farmers and irrigators could play a bigger role in creating long term management policies for Columbia Basin salmon and steelhead. The government has asked two university programs in Oregon and Washington to act as mediators over the next six months, talking with more than 200 organizations, states and tribes in order to find a better way of managing fish.

Dams, overfishing, and development are among the reasons for a decline in Columbia Basin salmon and steelhead.

Inspectors To Review 2 Salmon School Buildings

Associated Press — Mon, 24 Dec 2012 16:54:46 +0000

A state committee will move forward with inspecting two Salmon schools to determine whether a state fund can be tapped to repair or rebuild the schools.

Salmon School District 291 is looking for new revenue after local voters have rejected seven separate bond levies since 2005.

Feds Give Stakeholders Bigger Salmon Recovery Role

Aaron Kunz — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 16:15:10 +0000

Environmentalists, irrigators, and other stakeholders in the Northwest are being offered an expanded role in shaping the long-term recovery plan for salmon and steelhead in the Columbia Basin.

Working For Idaho's Extinct Coho Salmon

Aaron Kunz — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 04:38:05 +0000

The Northwest’s declining salmon runs have spurred marathon legal battles and inspired billions in spending to save the iconic species.

Sea Lions At Bonneville Dam Kill Estimated 2,500 Sturgeon

Amelia Templeton — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 20:33:41 +0000

Biologists say the sea lions that scoop up fish at the foot of Bonneville dam on the Columbia river have killed more sturgeon this year than salmon.

Two different species of sea lions like to feast at Bonneville. California sea lions only eat salmon. But Stellar sea lions arrive earlier in the year. While they wait for the spring salmon run to start, they snack on sturgeon.

Biologists with the Army Corps of Engineers estimate that this year, the Stellar sea lions ate about 2,500 sturgeon.

Agencies Release Annual Salmon Report

Aaron Kunz — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 18:55:01 +0000

Federal agencies Friday delivered a mixed report card on their efforts to recover endangered salmon in the Columbia River.

The report was delivered to federal judge Michael Simon in Portland. He is overseeing the legal case involving salmon and dams along the Columbia. The Bonneville Power Administration says this year's report shows some improvement in returning adult salmon and steelhead numbers. In 2011, the number of adult salmon migrating past the Bonneville Dam was the fourth highest since 1938.

Rain Brings Some Breathing Relief in Salmon

Frankie Barnhill — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 21:41:32 +0000

Salmon has seen some of the worst air quality in Idaho this year. This month, the town has had several “purple” or very unhealthy air quality days. The Mustang Complex fire is still burning mostly uncontained near the mountain town. Smoke from the blaze has plagued the area for weeks.

But a trace of rain over the weekend and into Monday has given residents of Salmon some much-needed fresh air.

“We’ve never been so happy to see rain in I don’t know how long," says Salmon Public Library employee Anne Schwartz. "So we are thanking God for sure.”

Idaho Black Bear Recovering From Wildfire

Samantha Wright — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 22:07:53 +0000

The black bear cub - known as Boo Boo - is expected to make a full recovery. The bear was burned in the Mustang Fire north of Salmon.

Boo Boo could be ready to leave the Idaho Humane Society, where he’s been recovering from his burns, in as little as two weeks. The three-to-four month old cub has 2^nd degree burns on all four of his paws.

Salmon Air Quality Unhealthy Because Of Wildfires

Frankie Barnhill — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 22:42:19 +0000

Wildfire activity caused a purple air quality advisory for Salmon today.

Rensay Owen of the Department of Environmental Quality says that this advisory is more serious than previous ones issued this summer. “We have been issuing an air quality advisory for Lemhi and Custer county areas for the last three weeks now. The last week or so these advisories have been in the unhealthy category.”

Owens says that the purple warning is the second highest level on the air quality index. “The very unhealthy category – folks should stay indoors and limit any exertion.”

Mustang Fire Threatens Homes Along Highway 93

Samantha Wright — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 22:13:32 +0000

The Lemhi County Sheriff today warned homeowners near Butcherknife Ridge to be prepared to evacuate if the Mustang Complex Fire gets closer. The 181,000 acre fire is threatening homes in the Highway 93 corridor north of North Fork.

Bear Cub Injured In Idaho Wildfire

Samantha Wright — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 19:30:27 +0000

Update: August 29, 2012

The Idaho state veterinarian, Mark Drew, says the injured bear cub needs more help than previously thought. The cub, nicknamed Boo Boo, was burned in the Mustang Fire near Salmon. All four of his paws were severely burned.

First Sockeye Reach Idaho's Stanley Basin

Aaron Kunz — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 23:35:36 +0000

The first sockeye arrived in Idaho’s Salmon River this week. That’s later than usual.

Most of Idaho’s sockeye come from the Salmon River. It’s also where they return to spawn. Tom Stuart is a salmon advocate. He says the endangered salmon species is more than two weeks behind schedule. That has him worried.

“It tells salmon advocates that the red fish of Redfish Lake are still at risk,” he says.

Lonesome Larry Hits 20-Year Anniversary

Aaron Kunz — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 14:46:10 +0000

This year marks the twenty year anniversary of Lonesome Larry, a lone sockeye salmon that made the 800 mile trip from the ocean to Redfish Lake in central Idaho. It helped jump start a multi-billion dollar effort to save Snake River salmon from certain extinction.

Recent Eastern Washington Coal Spill Raises Questions About Proposed Increased Exports

Anna King — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 21:03:09 +0000

This week crews are cleaning up about 30 train cars full of coal that overturned near Mesa, in Eastern Washington. The accident has raised questions about proposed increased train shipments of coal through the nearby Columbia River Gorge.

Huge machinery had to be trucked in from the Tri-Cities to clean up the black dusty mess in the rural burg east of Yakima. Car loads of coal overturned and damaged the tracks there.

Spring Chinook Numbers Lower Than Expected

Courtney Flatt — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 21:16:18 +0000

You might remember predictions of really high spring chinook runs this year. But, turns outs, after spring salmon runs wrapped up, the numbers were not as high as everyone had hoped.

Biologists had predicted the Columbia River would see one of the stronger spring salmon runs in the past decade. But it looks like forecasts were off by a little more than one-third. Biologists say, still a decent run, just not all that exciting.

One tool they use to predict salmon runs are early returns of male salmon, known as “jacks.”

Sea Lions Under the Gun

Ashley Ahearn — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 21:58:59 +0000

Since April, 20 sea lions have washed up dead in Oregon and Washington. The majority of the animals were shot.

The dead sea lions have been found mainly near the mouth of the Columbia River, a hot spot for salmon.

Many believe the animals are being killed by fishermen who view them as competition for their catch.

Sean Stanley is with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of Law Enforcement in Portland.