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Ecology and salmon related articles

Columbia River Summer Chinook and Sockeye Returns
Fast Approaching Record-sized Proportions

by Mark Yuasa
Seattle Times, July 6, 2015

... it was legal to keep marked or unmarked sockeye.

This June 13, 2006 file photo a year-old sockeye salmon peers through the glass of a lab beaker at the Eagle Fish Hatchery at Eagle Island State Park, west of Boise, Idaho. Here is the latest update on Columbia River summer chinook and sockeye by Joe Hymer, a state Fish and Wildlife biologist:

Bonneville Dam counts of adult summer chinook are closing in on a new record dating back since at least 1938.

Only the 76,538 fish counted between June 16-July 5, 1957 is larger than the 70,714 counted so far this year.

In 1957, the daily counts averaged 1,000 fish for the remainder of the season (through July) and totaled nearly 103,000 adults.

Single-day counts at Bonneville are 3,453 on June 29; 3,021 on June 30; 2,267 on July 1; 3,510 on July 2; 3,199 on July 3; 2,939 on July 4; and 2,581 on July 5.

Daily counts so far this year have averaged 3,500 fish.

Will the record stand?

Stay tuned...

Meanwhile, the 425,299 sockeye counted to date is already the third highest total since at least 1938.

Only the 515,700 (2012) and 614,200 (2014) are larger; however they are totals for the entire season.

Single-day counts at Bonneville are 23,574 on June 29; 17,547 on June 30; 18,423 on July 1; 14,949 on July 2; 11,900 on July 3; 11,600 on July 4; and 11,-64 on July 5.

At 10,000-plus fish counted daily since mid-June, maybe a new second place is possible?

Stay tuned on this front as well...


Mark Yuasa
Columbia River Summer Chinook and Sockeye Returns Fast Approaching Record-sized Proportions
Seattle Times, July 6, 2015

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