[6] Snake Fall Chinook Run Holds Its Own

Compared to other Columbia River fall chinook runs that are coming in much smaller than predicted, the Snake River run is doing just fine. The wild component of the Snake fall run is likely to once again reach its interim recovery level of 2,500 fish.

By Oct. 9, more than 9,100 fall chinook (hatchery and wild) had been counted at Lower Granite Dam, beating the 10-year average by nearly 25 percent.

The 8,200-plus jacks also put a positive spin on next year, as that count is more than twice the 10-year average.

The situation isn't so rosy downriver. At McNary Dam, the 50,000-fish count is only about half the 10-year average. Most are headed for Hanford Reach, traditionally the healthiest run in the entire Columbia Basin. Just a few years ago, McNary counts at this time were easily running at more than 100,000 for fall chinook.

Fall chinook counts at Bonneville Dam are also down at less than half the 10-year average. Poor ocean conditions in 2004 and 2005 may be responsible for the downturn, but fish managers are scratching their heads over why the Snake fish haven't suffered as well.

WDFW district fish biologist Glen Mendel said it's likely due to a combination of things, more juvenile releases, better smolt-to-adult return rates and possibly less interception during lower river harvest periods. He said in the past few years, the number of Snake-bound fall chinook usually makes up about 9 percent of count at McNary Dam, but this year it's more like 30 percent. -B. R.

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