Trap-and-haul project gives Okanagan sockeye a boost during drought years

A cross-border trap-and-haul pilot project improved the prospects for sockeye salmon migrating to Canada’s Okanagan River Basin. Conducted on July 16, the initiative involved collaboration among Grant County PUD, Chelan County PUD, and the Okanagan Nation Alliance. The project successfully trapped 105 adult sockeye at Wells Dam and transported them to the kł cp̓əlk̓ stim̓ Sockeye Hatchery in British Columbia, circumventing a thermal barrier that often disrupts migration. Tom Dresser, manager of Fish, Wildlife and Water Quality at Grant PUD, emphasized the importance of this collaborative effort. The hatchery currently has the capacity to rear up to 5 million sockeye, with potential upgrades allowing for 8 million.

This pilot project represents a significant step in restoring sockeye populations, which began in the early 2000s with fry releases. Other partners included the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and the U. S. Department of Agriculture. Funding agreements with the Okanagan Nation Alliance extend through 2060, ensuring ongoing monitoring and support.