News Release
| Release Number: | 01-055 |
| Dated: | 4/23/2001 |
| Contact: | Public Affairs Office, 503-808-4510 |
Portland, Ore. - The Portland District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, today extended fishing access hours at Bonneville Dam until 7 p.m. each night starting April 25, the date spring chinook fishing reopens on the Columbia River below Bonneville. Gates will still be closed at 5 p.m. April 23 and 24.
Fishing areas listed below will be open from 6 a.m. until 7 p.m. from April 25 through May 20. On May 20, fishing access hours will be extended to 9 p.m. everyday through Labor Day.
"We at Bonneville Dam recognize the importance of this fishery," said Jim Runkles, park manager, "and want to provide a safe experience for all the public. We are putting Rangers on overtime to provide this opportunity."
Fishing areas affected are Bradford Island, Robins Island, Tanner Creek (Oregon), and Cascades Island (Washington). Hamilton Island, Ft. Cascades, and the North Shore Recreation Areas in Washington remain open from sunrise to sunset each day. The Hamilton Island boat ramp is available for launching and trailering 24 hours a day. All the areas at Bonneville Dam are Day Use areas. There is no overnight parking or camping.
During the earlier open fishing season, anglers entering the project were parking on the ramps from Interstate 84, and on the project roadway. These are considered public highways and by statute are no parking areas. Anglers should park on shoulders to allow traffic to pass. The Oregon State Police may ticket those parking on the highways.
"I'd like to ask all anglers to please pick up their line and other trash," said Runkles, "and deposit it in the dumpsters we've provided. If everyone will do that, they'll decrease the chance of injury to fish and wildlife and their fellow anglers, as well as the overall impact on the land. We've had large crowds, and we want all anglers to have the same enjoyable opportunities, so everyone needs to do his or her part."
Summer hours (6 a.m. until 9 p.m.) will be in effect from May 20 through the day after Labor Day, Sept. 4, when access hours will be shortened again. From Sept. 4 through Sept. 22, hours will be 6 a.m. until 7 p.m. On Sept. 23, winter hours will be put in place and access will be from 6 a.m. until 5 p.m.