Report says Snake River chinook and steelhead still in peril

The biennial report from Washington’s Salmon Recovery Office highlights a troubling situation for Snake River spring chinook salmon, with only three populations remaining in Washington, and one, the Asotin Creek population, functionally extinct. Last year, 250 spring chinook returned to the Tucannon River, but only 67 were wild, showing a slight improvement from previous years. The Nez Perce Tribe and Washington Department of Fish and Game have implemented measures to save the fish, including releasing 50,000 smolts to improve survival rates. Fisheries managers anticipate a slight increase in returns this year, with about 300 fish in the system, primarily of hatchery origin. In contrast, Snake River fall chinook are approaching recovery goals, benefiting from hatchery programs and exceeding abundance targets for several years.

This raises the possibility of their removal from ESA protection, although a 2016 federal government petition to delist them was rejected. The report also reveals that Snake River steelhead are struggling, with many populations not keeping pace. Managers express concern over the competition between steelhead and pink salmon, which negatively affects steelhead returns.