Consumption guidelines in place for Southeast Oregon and Snake River fish populations
By Garrett Christensen on Thursday, March 14th, 2024 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
EASTERN OREGON – The Oregon Health Authority, in collaboration with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, maintains an ongoing list of fish consumption advisories across the state, including recommended consumption guidelines. As explained in the March 6 ODFW Recreation Report:
“The Oregon Health Authority has issued consumption guidelines for various waterbodies in
Oregon including the Snake and Columbia Rivers due to high levels of mercury and/or PCBs.
Fish with these chemicals look, act, smell and taste like any other fish, so caution is
important.”
As of the time of writing, consumption guidelines are in place for fish in the Snake River along with various waterbodies in the Southeast Oregon region. Keep in mind that these guidelines are routine, are based on the health and contaminant levels of local fish populations, and are not due to any recent or unique contamination of the waterways. The guidelines are as follows:
(For context, Vulnerable population refers to children under 6, persons that are or may become pregnant, and those who are nursing)
Southeast region:
- Antelope Reservoir:
- Mercury contamination
- All resident fish species impacted.
- Recommended vulnerable population monthly consumption limit: 0 meals.
- Recommended standard population monthly consumption limit: 1 meal.
- Jordan Creek, from Antelope Reservoir to the creek’s confluence with the Owyhee River:
- Mercury contamination
- All resident fish species impacted.
- Recommended vulnerable population monthly consumption limit: 0 meals.
- Recommended standard population monthly consumption limit: 1 meal.
- Owyhee Reservoir:
- Mercury contamination
- All resident fish species impacted.
- Recommended vulnerable population monthly consumption limit: 1 meal.
- Recommended standard population monthly consumption limit: 3 meals.
- Owyhee River upstream to Three Forks:
- Mercury contamination
- All resident fish species impacted.
- Recommended vulnerable population monthly consumption limit: 2 meals.
- Recommended standard population monthly consumption limit: 6 meals.
- Phillips Reservoir:
- Mercury contamination.
- Yellow Perch impacted.
- Recommended vulnerable population monthly consumption limit: 2 meals.
- Recommended standard population monthly consumption limit: 5 meals.
Snake River
- Snake River, from just south of Adrien, OR, north the WA border (including Brownlee Reservoir and the Powder River arm):
- Mercury contamination
- All resident fish species impacted.
- Recommended vulnerable population monthly consumption limit: 3 meals.
- Recommended standard population monthly consumption limit: 8 meals.
More information on Oregon’s fish consumption guidelines can be found at https://www.oregon.gov/oha/ph/healthyenvironments/recreation/fishconsumption/pages/fishadvisories.aspx#table
