ODFW expects fewer chinook returns in the Umpqua and Imnaha Rivers following recent hatchery incidents
By Garrett Christensen on Wednesday, May 15th, 2024 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
LA GRANDE & REEDSPORT – While spring usually means an opportunity to return to outdoor activities, such as fishing, March and April, unfortunately, saw the loss of approximately 43,500 chinook salmon between separate incidents in Eastern and Western Oregon, potentially causing lower fish returns in the Imnaha and Umpqua rivers.
The first incident (the full report of which can be found here) occurred on March 29 near Lookingglass Hatchery. A fish tanker carrying approximately 102,000 spring chinook salmon smolts rolled over while traversing a sharp corner, killing approximately 25,529 smolts and spilling an estimated 77,000 into Looking Glass Creek. At the time, the smolts were planned to be released into the Imnaha River.
The second incident occurred in late April (with ODFW issuing a formal release on April 25) at the Reedsport and Winchester Bay Salmon Trout Enhancement Program Hatchery in Reedsport. Joshua Heckathorn of Gardiner Oregon illegally trespassed in the hatchery and intentionally poured bleach into one of its tanks, killing roughly 18,000 young salmon.
Regarding the Lookingglass incident, ODFW reported at the time that the lost fish accounted for roughly 20% of the total planned released Salmon in the Imnaha River for 2024 and expects that 500-900 fewer adults will return in 2026 and 2027. Due to the sheer number of fish that reportedly survived being dumped into Lookingglass Creek, ODFW also reported at the time that 350-700 additional adult salmon are expected to return in the next couple years.
Regarding Umpqua, Megan C Dugan, part of ODFW West Region & Marine Resources Communications, recently told Elkhorn Media Group that, while there will of course be fewer fish, the decrease will not be particularly noticeable over the next three to five years. Western Hatcheries still plan to release 120,000 salmon in the Umpqua river and are still mostly on target for the fish release goal.
Elkhorn Media Group also inquired if ODFW plans to limit chinook season lengths or issue any restrictions along the Imnaha or Umpqua rivers going forward but did not receive a specific answer. ODFW communications up to the time of writing indicate expected lower adult chinook returns for the impacted rivers but did not reference or imply any form of seasonal restrictions.
