Wild fall chinook regulations to remain in place another week

The fall chinook fishery in the lower Snake River will keep restrictions on harvesting wild fish in place for at least another week. Fisheries managers decided to maintain the ban on adipose-intact fish as they monitor the expected run of wild fall chinook, forecasted at 4,000 to 5,200 by season’s end. Joe DuPont, regional fisheries manager, emphasized the need for better estimates before lifting the regulations. The fishery has not faced such restrictions for years, largely due to a recent stall in the run caused by elevated water temperatures. While conditions are improving, survival rates between Bonneville Dam and Lower Granite Dam remain a concern.

In a positive development, forecasts for B-run steelhead indicate that returns may be better than initially expected, with around 17,000 hatchery steelhead projected for the Clearwater basin. DuPont noted that this return size should allow the steelhead fishery to operate without further restrictions. Anglers and stakeholders are awaiting updates as conditions continue to change.