150 Chinook salmon to be released in Spokane River

[HUNTIN4SIX]

I was hearing rumors for the last couple years they were going to do this.  I was told we may even be raising chinook at the hatchery I worked at before I was canned.  The tribe really wants salmon.  I say let em try it.  Wouldn’t surprise me if they release smolts in Roosevelt in the future. 

[Jake Dogfish]

So, let’s break this down.
I’m just going off what I have read, feel free to correct me.
They are releasing 150 spawners in the Spokane river.  If this is above little falls dam, their is hundreds, if not thousands of pikeminnow waiting for downstream smolts in that section.
So, let’s say a significant portion of the smolts make it to lake Roosevelt.  Not sure if that’s even the plan?   
I’ve caught Chinook in Rosy before, and seen some caught.  Most are not big.  Not exactly egg wagons.
If the goal is to get them all they way to sea that seems like a miracle if a couple fish come back.
Did they say these fish are not tagged? 
I know some fish will show up below chief Joseph, and probably get netted but they are most likely strays with the instinct to go up river.
I think 150 adult fish is quite a lot of fish to be wasting on a experiment we are not even likely to know the results of. 
Maybe I’m missing the point.

[HUNTIN4SIX]

So, let’s break this down.
I’m just going off what I have read, feel free to correct me.
They are releasing 150 spawners in the Spokane river.  If this is above little falls dam, their is hundreds, if not thousands of pikeminnow waiting for downstream smolts in that section.
So, let’s say a significant portion of the smolts make it to lake Roosevelt.  Not sure if that’s even the plan?   
I’ve caught Chinook in Rosy before, and seen some caught.  Most are not big.  Not exactly egg wagons.
If the goal is to get them all they way to sea that seems like a miracle if a couple fish come back.
Did they say these fish are not tagged? 
I know some fish will show up below chief Joseph, and probably get netted but they are most likely strays with the instinct to go up river.
I think 150 adult fish is quite a lot of fish to be wasting on a experiment we are not even likely to know the results of. 
Maybe I’m missing the point.

Agree with all.  Probably a waste.  Who’s footin’ the bill?  A landlock chinook fishery would be great in Roosevelt.  I don’t think 150 adult will do anything.  I think this is just a baby step towards big steps the tribe will take in the future.  Think of all the land and streams they can take back now that there are precious chinook occupying them?  Not sure it will go there but why not?

[X-Force]

I don’t understand the conversation.

150 is a symbolic gesture of the tribe saying they haven’t forgot and they aren’t going to stop trying to get salmon back in the upper river.

I don’t blame them but the hurdles will be insurmountable for hundreds of years.

[Bullkllr]

So, let’s break this down.
I’m just going off what I have read, feel free to correct me.
They are releasing 150 spawners in the Spokane river.  If this is above little falls dam, their is hundreds, if not thousands of pikeminnow waiting for downstream smolts in that section.
So, let’s say a significant portion of the smolts make it to lake Roosevelt.  Not sure if that’s even the plan?   
I’ve caught Chinook in Rosy before, and seen some caught.  Most are not big.  Not exactly egg wagons.
If the goal is to get them all they way to sea that seems like a miracle if a couple fish come back.
Did they say these fish are not tagged? 
I know some fish will show up below chief Joseph, and probably get netted but they are most likely strays with the instinct to go up river.
I think 150 adult fish is quite a lot of fish to be wasting on a experiment we are not even likely to know the results of. 
Maybe I’m missing the point.

That's about the size of it.

This was a pr effort, coinciding with the big meeting. Everyone involved knows that releasing those salmon will have zero net effect except perhaps to draw attention.

"It illustrates, however, the increasing prominence given to Indigenous knowledge and perspectives in fishery and natural resource management. Roughly 1,500 fish and water scientists, educators and policymakers from around the world are in Spokane for the weeklong conference. That conference opened with an address from Spokane Tribal chairwoman Carol Evans and prominently featured Wednesday’s talk from Seyler and the accompanying fish release. Even 10 years ago this wouldn’t have happened, Seyler said."

I don’t understand the conversation.

150 is a symbolic gesture of the tribe saying they haven’t forgot and they aren’t going to stop trying to get salmon back in the upper river.

I don’t blame them but the hurdles will be insurmountable for hundreds of years.

Pretty much ^this^.

[h2ofowlr]

I don’t understand the conversation.

150 is a symbolic gesture of the tribe saying they haven’t forgot and they aren’t going to stop trying to get salmon back in the upper river.

I don’t blame them but the hurdles will be insurmountable for hundreds of years.

With the current administration, Jay.  I am sure it will come sooner than expected to be paid for by tax payers or license holders as our fees go into the general fund.

[callturner]

They dumped them up the Little Spokane last year

[WAcoueshunter]

Looks like a PR event to shed light on dams blocking upstream habitat.  Based solely on this thread, it is clearly working!  Pretty confident we wouldn't have a thread about Spokane River salmon otherwise. 

[10Key]

I still don't get how there isn't fish passage at Grand Coulee and several other dams on the Snake above the Grand Ronde. That all being said, the dams aren't going anywhere, nor should they, anytime soon

[buckcanyonlodge]

I've caught one blackmouth in Roosevelt---about 6 pounds---.Wish they would not have wasted them in the Spokane..It would be great to have a landlocked  chinook salmon fishery in Roosevelt.  This was just the tribe  preforming a public relation stunt. I could go on...........

[MtnMuley]

There were also landlocked kings in Rufus 25+ years ago.

[Ridgeratt]

I've caught one blackmouth in Roosevelt---about 6 pounds---.Wish they would not have wasted them in the Spokane..It would be great to have a landlocked  chinook salmon fishery in Roosevelt.  This was just the tribe  preforming a public relation stunt. I could go on...........

I believe those are overflow from Lake Couer D'Alene. this time of year they are fishing pretty serious out from Harrison for them.

[rasbo]

I've caught one blackmouth in Roosevelt---about 6 pounds---.Wish they would not have wasted them in the Spokane..It would be great to have a landlocked  chinook salmon fishery in Roosevelt.  This was just the tribe  preforming a public relation stunt. I could go on...........

I believe those are overflow from Lake Couer D'Alene. this time of year they are fishing pretty serious out from Harrison for them.

they have released salmon in Roosevelt, not long ago at the mouth of the San poil,I hope it takes.

[huntnnw]

I still don't get how there isn't fish passage at Grand Coulee and several other dams on the Snake above the Grand Ronde. That all being said, the dams aren't going anywhere, nor should they, anytime soon

on the snake and grande ronde? the only 1 blocking on the snake would be in hells canyon oxbow no dams on the ronde. Reason there is no ladder on coulee is elevation its 500' up and there is no way to make a ladder to go that high.

[10Key]

I didn't say on the Ronde, I said the snake, above the Ronde. And oops, I didn't know the name of the first dam without passage on the snake, but hells dam blocks hundreds of miles of spawning grounds behind it.

500' elevation change on grand Coulee is significant...but after many decades, I am sure we could figure something out. Ladders aren't the only option these days.