While we’re waiting for dam removal in Idaho, here’s what we can do now

Some cautionary notes are due on the subject of dam removal. If it happens, it is decades away, so discussion around dam removal as a solution to our lack of fish returns is premature and needs to be approached very carefully. The four lower Snake River dams fund a large portion of hatchery operations in Idaho for our anadromous fish. But more importantly, the dam removal discussion ignores what we need to get fish back to Idaho in the next year and five and 10 years from now.

The federal government, led by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Bonneville Power Administration, NOAA, Bureau of Reclamation and working with states and tribes is in the process of writing a new biological opinion for the Columbia River system. We need to be involved in that right now.

I’m going to make a few suggestions that I think would be beneficial to fish in the very near term, with the first four items being things that involve the federal government and the last being a state challenge:

▪ Our fish have responded very positively to barging in the past. The federal government needs to take a fresh look at barging fish, possibly all the way to the ocean. When we were barging fish, we had great returns. Then with lawsuits and increased spills and decreased barging, our fish have been in a steady decline. What are we doing to make sure barging of smolts is considered?

▪ Bird predation is a huge problem. Terns and cormorants are taking millions of our smolts. More aggressive bird control measures need to be taken.

▪ Reduction of sea lion predation is just starting but needs to be continued and perhaps increased to get our adult fish back. More aggressive measures are needed.

▪ There is some indication that increasing smolt release size has a positive impact on mortality. Are we looking at studies to inform us on that issue?

▪ And finally, Idaho Outfitters and Guides Association and the state of Idaho need to accept some responsibility. The Clearwater River is a small river, with barely 60 miles of prime fishing. Over the last dozen years, coinciding with a downward trend in fish numbers, fishing pressure has increased dramatically, especially from the outfitting industry. We can’t sustain the kinds of fish numbers that we are taking from the river and make it a good experience for everyone. Other states have had to deal with the same problem. Idaho needs to recognize this and start to deal with it, also. We either need to start limiting boats or rod numbers, but something has to give. We can’t keep putting more and more pressure on our fish.

In conclusion, dam removal is a long way away, even if it started tomorrow. We can’t wait for that. But these are things that we can and should be doing now to boost our fish numbers next year and every year after that. It means cooperation among federal, state and tribal governments and setting our own house in order.