News Release
| Release Number: | 00-087 |
| Dated: | 5/22/2000 |
| Contact: | Public Affairs Office, 503-808-4510 |
Portland, Ore. - Although numbers of spring chinook salmon passing the fish viewing windows at Bonneville Dam are tapering off, adult plus jack (prematurely returning males) counts are the highest since biologists started keeping fish count records at the dam in 1938. And, this year’s jack counts predict a rainbow-hued future, at least for the next couple of years.
Returning salmon are counted first at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ dam, 40 miles east of Portland, Ore., on the Columbia River. When adult and jack counts are added together, this year’s return is the highest on record: 189,600 fish. The previous high was recorded in 1972, when combined counts totaled 186,140 fish.
On May 21, ten days before the end of this year’s spring chinook migration, adult counts hit nearly 171,000. The 10-year average (1990-1999) is 62,339. Equally optimistic, however, are the jack counts. The 10-year average (1990-1999) is 2,737. This year’s jack count reached 18,788 on May 21. That’s nearly seven times greater than the 10-year average.
Jack counts are noteworthy because they are an important forecast for the next adult fish runs, according to Corps biologist Gary Johnson. "Normally, if jack counts are up one year, adult runs are up the next two years. The trend proves out most of the time," Johnson said. "In 1999, we counted 8,691 spring chinook jacks at Bonneville Dam, up from 775 in 1998. In 1999, we had just under 39,000 adults return. This year’s jack counts are more than double last year’s. Now I won’t predict next year’s adult run will be double this year’s, but I’m confident it will be even larger than we’re seeing now!"
Part of the improvement can be traced to better ocean conditions and, thus, a more plentiful food supply. That’s Mother Nature’s work. The human element also may deserve some credit, with changes underway in hatchery production, harvest regulations, habitat restoration actions and improvements at hydropower projects on the Columbia and Snake rivers. Regional partners - government, public and private - including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, continue to work to preserve the valuable fish runs on the Columbia and Snake rivers. Work is underway at all Corps dams to make adult and juvenile fish passage safer.
The majority of the big chinook passed the fish viewing windows earlier this month but some are still moving through and shad runs are increasing, so there’s still plenty of enjoyment for those who want to see fish at Bonneville Dam. The Bradford Island Visitor Center, on the Oregon portion of the project, and the North Shore Visitor Complex on the Washington shore, are open from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. each day. Fish viewing is excellent in both! As an added incentive for an enjoyable visit, Bonneville’s vibrantly colored rhododendrons are at their peak. Plan a picnic and spend the day!
To visit the Oregon side of the project, take I-84 east from Portland, turn right at exit 40, and follow signs to the hatchery or the Visitor Center. To reach the Washington Shore facilities, follow State Highway 14 to the Bonneville North Shore Visitor Complex, or take I-84 to Cascade Locks, cross the Bridge of the Gods and turn left on State Highway 14.