For the first time in 40 years, coho salmon can be harvested in the Grand Ronde River starting October 1st.
Reintroduction efforts by state officials and the Nez Perce Tribe began in 2017. While the first two adult runs saw less than 200 fish returning to the Lostine River, this year is one of the best showings to date.
Kyle Bratcher is a fish biologist with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife in Enterprise. His agency estimates as many as 3,000 coho originating from the Lostine River could pass Lower Granite Dam, enough to offer anglers some harvest.
“I would call it a success quite yet, we’re only in our third year.," Bratcher told KLCC. "And we’ll see what happens, but we have had habitat conditions improve in the area, and operation of the hydro system has improved. We got a little better ocean conditions in the last year or so, and so those fish have just done a little better on this particular release.”
Bratcher credited improved fish culture, a strong partnership with the Nez Perce, and habitat improvement for the improved numbers of coho salmon.
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