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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 1, 2021)
12 Wednesday, September 1, 2021 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon STEELHEAD: Numerous problems contributing to declining numbers fishery to urge that it be shut down for a year. The Associated Press reported that <a coalition of conser- vation and fishing groups sent a letter to the Oregon, Washington, and Idaho agencies that manage fish and wildlife requesting an immediate closure of recre- ational steelhead fisheries on the Columbia River, the Lower Snake River, and their tributaries.= Erickson, who guides for The Fly Fisher9s Place in Sisters, said that a shutdown would have some impact on the local business. <We pursue steelhead in addition to trout on multi-day trips,= he said. That amounts to 10 to 15 trips in a year. <It does affect us a little Continued from page 1 bit,= he said. this year is the lowest ever Erickson said he agrees recorded. As of this week, with guides who are joining just over 29,000 steelhead conservation organizations passed Bonneville Dam since in advocating closing the July 1 4 that9s less than half fishery. the average of the past five <I think that9s good; I years.= think that9s noble,= he said. Steelhead trout hatch <It9s guides walking the walk, in freshwater rivers and talking the talk.= streams, migrate to the ocean, However, he noted, simply and return to fresh water to shutting recreational fishing spawn. for a year won9t fix what is Sisters-based fly- becoming a chronic fishing guide Steve problem. Erickson says that <It9s the low- the declining num- hanging fruit,= he bers represent an said. <It9s the least economic threat to impactful solution fishing guides, but possible.= even more danger- Erickson identi- ously, a serious fies an interlinked threat to the ecology set of conditions of the region. that contribute to <It9s pretty dire,= steelhead decline, he said, noting including habi- that the record low tat degradation; comes on the heels offshore netting; of years of decline gill-netting on the in the 10-year mov- Columbia River; ing average on seal predation; and returns. <The bar9s water-temperature been going down for management. the past five or six <There are years.= numerous problems PHOTO COURTESY STEVE ERICKSON that point toward the The conditions A precipitous drop in steelhead numbers is of grave epicenter.= have led even those concern to fishing guides like Steve Erickson (right) of who make part of The Oregon Sisters. their living on the Department of Fish Sisters Dental WE ARE HERE FOR YOU! Trevor Frideres, D . M . D . Greg Everson, D . M . D . and Wildlife lists several keys to recovery of populations for salmon and steelhead: " Protect and restore criti- cal estuary and tributary habitat. " Continue to set sport and commercial fishing seasons that emphasize the harvest of hatchery fish with minimum impact on wild populations. " Propose ways in which the Columbia River hydro- power system can be better managed to protect juvenile and adult fish, and reduce negative impacts on down- stream habitat. " Minimize the number of <straying= hatchery fish that spawn in the wild and, where appropriate, establish wild fish sanctuaries in cer- tain watersheds by excluding hatchery fish. " Reduce competition with non-native and hatchery fish in the estuary, and predation by pikeminnow, Caspian terns, and marine mammals. Such a significant decline in numbers poses a prob- lem even if states undertake actions like closing fisheries. <You9re not going to have this magical rebound where you have a great year, because you arithmetically can9t,= Erickson said. <You don9t have enough population to reproduce.= The guide worries not only about business and about this particular fishery, but the cas- cading effect on the whole ecology of the region, which is profoundly interconnected. He believes that long-term solutions have to come from <a level above local, state, and maybe even regional influences.= WE WILL BE OPEN LABOR DAY 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. 541-548-2899 3818 SW 21st Pl. Hwy. 126 to Redmond, two turns and you’re there! 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