WDFW seeks nominations to Cowlitz River advisory group

[littlemac]

WDFW NEWS RELEASE
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091
http://wdfw.wa.gov/

May 5, 2010
Contact: Pat Frazier, (360) 906-6711

WDFW seeks nominations to Cowlitz River advisory group

OLYMPIA - The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is seeking nominations through May 21 for membership on its new Cowlitz River advisory group.

Up to 12 qualified individuals will be chosen to serve on the ad hoc group, which will meet monthly for about a year to develop recommendations for improving conservation and sustainable fishing opportunities on the river.

A major focus of the group will be to advise WDFW in updating its Fishery and Hatchery Management Plan for the Cowlitz River, which establishes Tacoma Power's obligations to support hatchery production and fish management activities in the Cowlitz Basin.

Specific issues addressed in the plan include the quantity and size of fish produced at the Cowlitz Hatchery Complex, rearing and release protocols for each stock and strategies designed to maximize the natural production of fish stocks and species in the basin.

The plan also addresses fishery management strategies, including monitoring and evaluation efforts that support conservation of naturally produced fish and sustainable fishing opportunities.

"Efforts to restore salmon and steelhead and provide sustainable fishing opportunities on the Cowlitz River are at a critical stage" said Phil Anderson, WDFW director.  "We want to draw on the expertise of others to promote progress in this important watershed."

Nominees for the advisory group do not have to be affiliated with an organized group. Nominations must be submitted in writing with the following information:

Nominee's name, address, telephone number and email address.
Relevant experience and reasons for wanting to serve as a member of the advisory group.
Nominee's effectiveness in communication.
Name and contact information for any individual or organization submitting a nomination.
Nominations must be received by May 21. Nominations may be submitted to Cathy Davidson by mail: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, 600 Capitol Way N., Olympia, WA, 98501; or email at Cathy.Davidson@dfw.wa.gov . For more information, contact Pat Frazier at (360) 906-6711. 

[Special T]

So who we gona back? We need some inside info on whats going on in the WDFW.... If were ever gona change the way they work we NEED to work all the angles! I don't fish so it can't be me but some one needs to step up.. 

[1morebuck]

I put in for the enforcement advisory group, but was denied. Here is Phil's reason: Um Uh... Well... We want a person who can communicate with specific groups of the hunting and fishing community.

DAMN! I am an outdoor writer! Who the h$#@ are they really looking for? I spend 200 days a year fishing, hunting, interviewing all of us on this kind of stuff.

Funny thing was I wrote about the BS going on at the Skokomish River last year concerning the tribes crying about the fecal coliform problem. I may have called ol' Phil Anderson out a little. Oops! I guess thats what I get for speaking the truth about the WDFW.

[Hangfire]

If you look at the following sentence in the announcement " maximize the natural production of fish stocks and species in the basin." you see what this is all about.

By maximizing natural production, Tacoma City Light saves money on hatchery operation costs.  This is a river basin with three dams, the natural habitat that the native fish evolved for does not exist.
 
Native fish emphasis means less fish for the angler.

For steeelhead and sea-run cutthroat there has been years of studies on size and time of release.

[BigGoonTuna]

anybody can tell you that the true natives were wiped out when the dams went in.  the "natural" production up there is nothing but a pipe dream, those fish are just somewhat naturally reproducing fish of hatcheyr origin.  the only natives left in the cowlitz system are in the toutle, coweeman and some of the smaller creeks that drain into the mainstem.

i saw the tail end of the steelhead glory days on that river and i don't believe they're ever coming back.  we'll never see 10k steelhead caught in december again.

[Hangfire]

i saw the tail end of the steelhead glory days on that river and i don't believe they're ever coming back.  we'll never see 10k steelhead caught in December again.

What time frame, years, do you consider the glory days on the Cowlitz?

[BLKBEARKLR]

wow keeping 10000 steelhead in one month, kind of a large number, probably one of the facts there is not a big run anymore 

[BigGoonTuna]

those were HATCHERY fish, and harvesting them has nothing to do with the returns.  i wasn't around for the "old days" but i started fishing that river in 1990.  seeing 100 fish on the bank was not uncommon around christmas time.  there were hordes of people, but it was easier to stomach because there were a ton of fish being caught.

[Hangfire]

The early 90's was when the hatchery had the ozone plant installed to disinfect the water and prevent serious losses to water born pathogen.  I lived in the area at that time.  There were several news paper articles, TV shows etc. The state of Oregon even sent up there administration to look at the returns and fishery.  What I was told by the hatchery evaluation biologist which I knew at that time. The Oregon people said they had never seen any thing like it, and wished they could have something like it. The December fishery was something to see.  The flooding in the mid 90's messed up conditions for a while. Not every year was that good , ocean conditions affected some years.

When the fishery was hot, there would be a double line of cars for over 400 yards waiting to launch. The tackle shops, Andy's and the Barrier dam were flooded with business.  These were all hatchery fish.