STATUS REPORT COLUMBIA RIVER FISH RUNS AND FISHERIES 1938-2000 TEXT ONLY Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife August 2002 THE JOINT COLUMBIA RIVER MANAGEMENT STAFF WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE CRAIG BURLEY - PROGRAM LEADER MIKE WALL WOLF DAMMERS JOE HYMER RON ROLER CINDY LEFLEUR RICK HEITZ RICH PETTIT BRAD JAMES BRAD CADY MARC MILLER SHANE HAWKINS DAN RAWDING BOB WOODARD STEVE GRAY STEVE CAMPBELL KELLY HARLAN LISA HARLAN DENNIS GILLILAND KEN KELLER VICTOR ALBALDEJO JOHN SEWALL MICHELLE SMITH JOHN WEINHEIMER STACIE KELSEY BRYCE GLASSER JIM BYRNE STEVE THIESFELD OREGON DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE PATRICK A. FRAZIER - PROGRAM LEADER PAUL HIROSE RAY BEAMESDERFER CURT MELCHER KEVLEEN MELCHER DOUGLAS CASE WAYNE VAN DER NAALD JIMMY WATTS BRET MORGAN TOM NEILL JEFF WHISLER JEFF FULOP ROY CLARK BRYANT SPELLMAN ERIC OLLERENSHAW MATT HUNTER ROBERT BROOKS SUSAN ENGWALL The Joint Staff is comprised of biologists and technicians from Oregon and Washington cooperating to provide scientific information for the management of Columbia River fisheries that harvest salmon (four species), steelhead trout, shad, smelt, walleye, and sturgeon (two species). Fisheries are monitored to obtain complete fishery statistics used to determine their influence on the various runs. Run size predictions are developed preseason to establish seasons. Run size updates, through the use of dam counts, test fishing, environmental indices, and early season catches, are used to assist in adjusting seasons to allow maximum harvest while permitting the desired escapement. Escapement and subsequent production are studied to determine the success and contribution to the fishery by brood year. Fish taken in fisheries are sampled for biological data. Many of these duties are carried out in cooperation with the Columbia River treaty Indian tribes, the United States, and the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. Contents Page INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................... 1 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND ...................................................................................... 2 Hydro Development............................................................................................ 2 Hatchery Development ....................................................................................... 6 Fishery Development.......................................................................................... 6 FISHERIES ................................................................................................................. 11 Introduction....................................................................................................... 11 Regulations....................................................................................................... 11 Columbia River Compact ....................................................................... 11 Columbia River Fish Management Plan................................................. 13 Endangered Species Act ....................................................................... 13 Management Agreements...................................................................... 13 In-season Management ......................................................................... 14 Water Conditions .............................................................................................. 14 Non-Indian Commercial Fishery ....................................................................... 18 Treaty Indian Fishery........................................................................................ 22 Non-Indian Recreational Fishery ...................................................................... 25 Lower Columbia Fishery ........................................................................ 25 Buoy 10 Fishery..................................................................................... 26 FISH RUNS................................................................................................................. 28 Spring Chinook Salmon.................................................................................... 28 Biology ................................................................................................... 28 Historic Status........................................................................................ 28 Summer Chinook Salmon................................................................................. 29 Biology ................................................................................................... 29 Historic Status........................................................................................ 29 Fall Chinook Salmon ........................................................................................ 30 Biology ................................................................................................... 30 Historic Status........................................................................................ 30 Sockeye Salmon............................................................................................... 32 Biology ................................................................................................... 32 Historic Status........................................................................................ 32 Coho Salmon.................................................................................................... 33 Biology ................................................................................................... 33 Historic Status........................................................................................ 33 Chum Salmon................................................................................................... 34 Biology ................................................................................................... 34 Historic Status........................................................................................ 34 Winter Steelhead .............................................................................................. 35 Biology ................................................................................................... 35 Historic Status........................................................................................ 35 Summer Steelhead........................................................................................... 36 Biology ................................................................................................... 36 Historic Status........................................................................................ 36 Smelt ................................................................................................................ 37 Biology ................................................................................................... 37 Historic Status........................................................................................ 37 Shad ................................................................................................................. 38 Biology ................................................................................................... 38 Historic Status........................................................................................ 38 White Sturgeon................................................................................................. 39 Biology ................................................................................................... 39 Historic Status........................................................................................ 39 Green Sturgeon................................................................................................ 41 Biology ................................................................................................... 41 Historic Status........................................................................................ 41 Walleye............................................................................................................. 42 Biology ................................................................................................... 42 Historic Status........................................................................................ 42 RUN STATUS AND HARVEST................................................................................... 43 Spring Chinook ................................................................................................. 43 Lower River Run .................................................................................... 43 Status............................................................................................ 43 Non-Indian Commercial Harvest ................................................... 43 Non-Indian Recreational Harvest .................................................. 46 Upriver Run............................................................................................ 47 Status............................................................................................ 47 Non-Indian Commercial Harvest ................................................... 49 Treaty Indian Commercial Harvest................................................ 50 Treaty Indian Ceremonial and Subsistence Harvest ..................... 52 Non-Indian Recreational Harvest .................................................