Opinion - Say, what? Salmon fishing may be opened up

With the debate over breaching the Snake River dams to save the salmon runs reaching its final stages, Idaho and Washington may open up salmon fishing on the Snake?

The runs are showing signs of improvement. This year early indicators are that the runs will be very strong.

Historically, salmon runs on the Snake River were in the millions. Then, commercial fishing started. In the late 19th Century, fishing and cannery operations on the Columbia River devastated the runs, so much so that the operations had to resort to canning second-rate steelhead because salmon were so depleted.

This was before the first Columbia River dams were constructed. The declines continued as dams were built.

More recently the dams on the river system, including those on the Snake River, have been condemned for causing the declines. The slack water kept the young fish from reaching the ocean. They needed a river current to push them to the sea. The temperatures became too high for the fish. The fish ladders did not replicate natural rapids. Too many fish were being chewed up in the turbines. The water lacked oxygen.

Some of the concerns were valid, and millions of dollars and countless hours have been spent trying to reconcile fish survival with the nation’s needs for clean, inexpensive, renewable power.

A plan had been reached to provide for both. Progress was being made. Although that decision was overturned in court, there is still hope that the dams and the fish can prosper together. The official opinion of the Obama administration on the matter is still forthcoming.

Despite this, both Idaho and Washington are considering longer and more relaxed chinook salmon fishing seasons. Although only hatchery fish are included, does this mean the problem with the fish runs has been solved?

The survival of the dams and all the benefits they provide depends upon the survival of the fish runs. It makes no sense to plunder those runs for mere sport as soon as a turnaround may be in sight.

Gordon Forgey

Publisher