OREGON ISHWORKS F Fall 2008 News from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (ODFW) Fish Restoration and Enhancement (R&E) and Salmon and Trout Enhancement Programs (STEP) R&E grant helps fund fish ladder repair on important Rogue River tributary epairs to a fish passage facili- upstream from Little Butte Creek’s the fish ladder is working properly.” ty and reconstruction of a confluence with the Rogue River In addition to the R&E Program Rrock weir on Little Butte near TouVelle State Recreation grant, the Oregon Watershed Creek that were damaged by flood- Area, but significant flooding that Enhancement Board, Bureau of ing have recently been completed, year damaged the ladder and Reclamation, Rogue Basin providing additional upstream destroyed the weir. With the fish Coordinating Council and the access for salmon and steelhead and ladder repaired and the weir rebuilt, Southwest Region ODFW also con- improving fish habitat. The Fish salmon and steelhead will be able to tributed to the project. Total project Restoration and Enhancement reach an additional 22 miles of cost was about $122,500. Program contributed $36,000 to help upstream habitat while the weir is fund the repair work. adding more pool habitat below the Little Butte Creek is an important dam and reducing erosion to the tributary of the Rogue River and creek’s banks. provides spawning and rearing habi- “It’s working like it’s supposed to,” tat for runs of coho and Chinook said Janelle Dunlevy, project man- salmon and steelhead. ager for the Rogue Basin In 2005, an improved fish ladder, Coordinating Council, who oversaw headgate and rock weir were con- the project. “It’s backing up water structed at the Butte Grist Mill against the weir, creating fish habi- Little Butte Creek fishladder. Photo by Dam, located about five miles tat between the weir and dam, and Janelle Dunlevy R&E Board visits Smith In This Issue River fish passage project Little Butte Creek Fish Ladder Sturgeon Fishing During its August meeting in Reedsport, the Elk River Fall Chinook Surveys R&E Board visited the fish ladder at Smith River Falls on the Smith River to see the STAC & R&E Field Trips results of a past R&E Program-funded project. Latest STAC & R&E Grants The original fish ladder was built in 1971, but its design resulted in strong currents that Fish Passage often caused migrating Chinook and coho salmon and steelhead problems during high water. In 2001, an R&E grant provided funds to fix it. “Now the fish don’t beat themselves up try- ing to pass over the falls,” said ODFW district fish biologist Laura Jackson, who led the tour. Latest STAC It’s sturgeon fishing time Mini-Grants By Tom Friesen, STEP Coordinator When fall Chinook angling is winding down and winter steelhead have MG 07-42 Hatchery Settling not yet arrived is a great time to fish for sturgeon. White sturgeon are one Tank, $500, Coos River STEP of Oregon’s premier game fish – they are large, excellent eating, and can be considerably less challenging than salmon or steelhead. This also makes MG 07-44 Salmon Life Cycle sturgeon fishing a great family activity. Kids love catching sturgeon, espe- Exhibition Addition, cially when they learn that sturgeon lived when dinosaurs roamed the $425,Tillamook Forest earth – over 200 million years ago! Center Sturgeon fishing in Oregon occurs primarily in the Columbia and Willamette rivers and coastal estuaries. While most anglers fish from MG 07-45 Provide Fish boats, some shore angling opportunities exist, including numerous locations Escapement in the within an hour’s drive of Portland. Local fishing reports and other infor- Whittaker Trap Weir, $690, Florence STEP mation can be found in ODFW’s weekly Recreation Report (http://www.dfw.state.or.us/RR/index.asp). MG 07-46 Secure Roof and Door Sturgeon gear is typically simple and stout. Most anglers use a 7 to 8- for Fish Trap, $750, foot rod rated for 25 to 60 lb. line and a level-wind reel. Terminal tackle is Florence STEP equally simple – a sliding sinker, leader, and “octopus” style hook. Barbless hooks are required in most areas, and are encouraged everywhere, MG 07-47 Fish Educational as many sturgeon are too small or too large to keep and must be released Resource Trunk for unharmed. Educators, $750, U.S. Sturgeon can sometimes be finicky about what they will bite (for exam- Fish and Wildlife Service ple, when fresh smelt are in the river), but can often be caught on a variety of offerings. Smelt, shrimp, MG 07-48 Fish Eggs to Fry clams, anchovies, and squid Workshop, $750, OSU are all popular baits. While Klamath Basin sturgeon will chase prey Research & Extension such as shad close to the sur- Center face, they are primarily bot- tom feeders, so keeping the MG 07-49 Wild About bait relatively still and on Water: Salmon Life Cycle Study, $255, the bottom is critical. Lewis & Clark College Sturgeon often favor deep water, but can also be found in shallow flats at times, depending on available food Calendar sources. As a general rule, most anglers will move to Dec. 15, 2008 R&E Grant find fish if they do not get a Fall is great time to fish for sturgeon while you Applications Due bite within 30 minutes. are waiting for winter steelhead to show up. Photo Sturgeon anglers are by ODFW. Dec. 23, 2008 STAC Mini-grant reminded to always check Applications Due current regulations prior to fishing. Lamprey, once a popular sturgeon bait, are no longer legal to use, and beginning in 2009 the legal length for Jan. 23, 2009 STAC Meeting Grants Pass sturgeon will be measured from the tip of the nose to the fork of the tail, rather than the tip of the tail. In addition, sturgeon seasons are often Feb. 20, 2009 R&E Board closed when quotas are met or conservation needs arise. Regulation Meeting, Salem updates can be found at http://www.dfw.state.or.us/resources/fishing. Mar. 17, 2008 STAC Mini-grant Applications Due STEP Conference post- STEP on the Web www.dfw.state.or.us/STEP Mar. 18, 2009 R&E Grant poned until spring 2009 Applications Due Watch for updated information in R&E Program on the Web April 17, 2009 STAC Meeting www.dfw.state.or.us/fish/RE Eugene this newsletter and on the STEP Web site. STAC members tour Portland’s Recent R&E Program Grants Bull Run Watershed The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission recently approved the 8 Members of the Salmon Trout Advisory Committee had a rare and inter- R&E grants listed below. esting opportunity to tour Portland’s Bull Run watershed as part of their More information about these proj- October meeting. Led by Myla Thomas and fish biologist Burke Strobel, ects may be obtained by contacting both of the Portland Water Bureau, the group visited the two dams and program staff at 503-947-6259. reservoirs that control the water system and viewed the lower section of the Bull Run River, which has runs of winter steelhead, fall and spring Enhancement Chinook salmon and coho salmon. Resident fish in the watershed include cutthroat and rainbow trout 07-124 High Desert Winter and some brook trout. Survey Equipment, Although 95 percent of the $6,000 watershed is located within 07-126 Little Butte Creek the Mount Hood National Meander Restoration Forest, the area is closed to Project, $20,600 07-127 Port of Cascades Locks the public under an agree- Fish Cleaning Station, ment between the U.S. Forest $11,691 Service and the City of 07-129 Thief Valley Reservoir Portland to protect the water- Road Improvement, shed and water quality. As Part 2, $35,000 such, no logging or other 07-130 Taylor Lake Pedestrian intensive management activi- Trail Restoration, ties occur in the 147-square- $7,630 mile area. About five percent 07-132 Effects of Cured Eggs on Juvenile Salmon, of the watershed belongs to Clean water in the Bull Run watershed means good habitat for salmon, steelhead and trout. $9,653 the City of Portland. Photo by Jim Yuskavitch Restoration About six miles of the Bull Run River, from where it meets the Sandy River up to the first dam, is 07-119 Salmon River Aquatic accessible to salmon and steelhead. Restoration Project, According to Strobel, the Bull Run River is included in a larger multi- $49,630 partnership effort to improve fish habitat, passage and water quality 07-125 Ceratomyxa shasta throughout the Sandy River basin. An assessment is currently underway to Impacts on Upper determine the best ways to help salmon, steelhead and other fish species in Klamath River Salmon, $88,148 the Bull Run River and watershed. R&E funds Elk River creel and carcass surveys The R&E Program is funding fall Chinook creel and carcass surveys on the Elk River as part of a long-term study to determine how ocean harvest under the U.S. and Canadian Pacific Salmon Treaty affects the number of salmon returning to the river to spawn. Elk River fall Chinook salmon comprise an important Oregon sport fishery with about 4,000 caught each year off Port Orford. Another 2,000 to 3,000 are harvested annually in the Elk River. Salmon caught in the ocean by Canadians are often fish that were born in U.S. rivers while many salmon harvested by Americans off the coast of Alaska are of Canadian origin. The Pacific Salmon Treaty was negotiated between the two countries so that these salmon are allocated equitably between the two countries.