The Osprey: Hope like a Coho, Sting like a Bee

 

  • Hope Like a Coho, Sting like a Bee: The Condit Dam removal story, by Katherine P. Ransel, pp 1 & 4-6, Issue No. 71, January 2012. Ransel, of American Rivers, traces the history of the dam removal effort beginning in 1992 which involved building alliances with national conservation groups as well as Columbia Treaty Tribes and various agencies. A lengthy legal battle with PacificCorp through the FERC relicensing process eventually ended with a free river and many miles of newly accessible habitat.

  • Editor’s Message: An Issue for Everyone, by Jim Yuskavitch, pg 2, Issue No. 71, January 2012. The Editor surveys the issue’s coverage of a new infectious disease, dam removal, a return to the Thompson and excessive hatchery production on the Willapa.

  • Chair’s Corner: Wild Salmonid Mgt. Zones best way to protect wild salmon and steelhead, by Will Atlas, pg 3, Issue No. 71, January 2012. With Puget Sound’s rivers closed to angling for the better part of winter and spring, we must demand the WDFW cut back on hatchery production and do what we can to restore fisheries.

  • Infectious Salmon Anemia: A British Columbia salmongate? By Alexandra Morton, pp 7-9, Issue No. 71, January 2012. Infectious Salmon Anemia, likely of European origin, was recently found in BC salmon and may explain declines in Fraser sockeye. Consequently, the Cohen Commission reopened for unscheduled hearings and government knowledge of this disease became evident. Keywords: HSMI, HPR0

  • Idaho Salmon Update, by Greg Stahl, pp 10-12, Issue No. 71, January 2012.. Salmon and steelhead spawning and rearing habitat in Idaho remain healthy yet the lower snake dams and NOAA’s misguided recovery plan hampered recovery to the state’s once bountiful returns. Judge Redden’s decisions have helped but he is stepping away from the case and calls for stakeholder collaboration are increasing. Keywords: Bowler, Mashuda, Nez Perce, Michael Simon

  • Puget Sound: Past, Present and Future, by Will Atlas, pp 13-14, Issue No. 71, January 2012. Research shows Puget Sound’s current steelhead runs are only at 1-4% of historical abundance. Current threats such as hatcheries and net pens are a top conservation priority.

  • More Trouble on the Thompson, by Greg Gordon, pp 15-17, Issue No. 71, January 2012. In a surprisingly reversal a sport fishing season for steelhead has been opened due to a new management model. Unfortunately, little progress has been made on reducing commercial fishery impacts on steelhead. Keywords: MFLNRO, Chilcotin, NASF

  • The Willapa Basin Salmon Factory, by Ron Nanney, pp 18-19, Issue No. 71, January 2012. Nanney reports that the rivers draining into Willapa Bay lack ESA protections and tribal treaty rights and have become dominated by commercial fisheries and massive hatchery production. Little thought is given to wild stocks of salmon and steelhead despite HSRG recommendations.

 
The Osprey Journal