5A
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2017
Willamette steelhead face extinction due to sea lions
1995. Through 2003, the popu-
lation numbered fewer than one
dozen. But the numbers soon
ballooned, and in 2010, the
state briefly started hazing the
animals by shooting non-lethal
rounds and other tactics. Today,
Clements said, the population is
around 40 animals when the sea
lions swim up river.
Under the current exemp-
recently filed a permit seeking
the ability to kill sea lions at
the Willamette Falls site for the
first time.
The bill introduced by
Reps. Jaime Herrera-Beut-
ler, R-Washington, and Kurt
Schrader, D-Oregon -- would
allow removal of up to 920
sea lions at Willamette Falls or
Bonneville.
tion carved out under the 1974
Marine Mammal Protection
Act, Oregon can legally kill up
to 92 animals at Bonneville. In
2016, the states removed and
euthanized 59 sea lions at Bon-
neville, the most in any single
year since the program began
in 2008 (two additionalsea lion-
swere accidentally killed).
Clements said Oregon
You’re invited:
Dinner and answers on us!
OFF
OFF
OFF
F F O
F F O
according to Clements.
In the early 2000s, the win-
ter steelhead run was close to
15,000.
They believe sea lions have
consumed one-quarter of the
2017 steelhead run.
If fewer than 100 fish make
it past the falls for four con-
secutive years, a run will be
deemed extinct.
The population study in
Oregon incorporated fish
counts dating back decades,
and projected two scenarios
over the next century: One with
sea lions remaining on site and
one with them gone.
Without sea lions, the risk
of extinction was negligible, at
just 6 percent. But if the marine
mammals continued eating
25 percent of the run, the risk
of extinction would rise to 89
percent.
According to Clements’
analysis, the Willamette River
populations have trended down
while the Clackamas River’s
steelhead run rebounded.
The big difference? Sea
lions.
In the past decade, sea lions
have increasingly chosen to
swim the 128 miles from the
mouth of the Columbia River
to the falls. Thousands congre-
gate in Astoria for months at a
time, but others swim up river
for food.
According to an ODFW
report, the state started mon-
itoring sea lions at the falls in
F F O
If California sea lions con-
tinue their underwater buffet
below Willamette Falls, they
could push winter steelhead
trout to the brink of extinction,
state officials warned Monday.
Oregon Department of
Fish and Wildlife highlighted
the threat in a population fea-
sibility study. Without fed-
eral intervention, they said,
there’s an 89 percent probabil-
ity that least one population of
the iconic fish species will go
extinct in the near future.
“It’s pretty dire,” Shaun
Clements, the agency’s senior
fish policy adviser said in an
interview from a Clackamas
County park just down river
from the state’s largest water-
fall, where sea lions have been
setting up shop around the
time the trout try to make their
trek to spawning grounds up
river. “If we don’t deal with
this near-term risk, there might
not be fish,” he said.
The state’s report comes
as two Pacific Northwest con-
gressional leaders are trying
to give Oregon and Washing-
ton broader authority to kill
sea lions at Bonneville Dam
on the Columbia River. The
bill would also apply to the sea
lion logjam at Willamette Falls
in Oregon City.
But the state’s dire warning
doesn’t reflect the true scope
of the problem, according to
the Native Fish Society, a non-
profit advocacy group based in
Oregon City.
Conrad Gowell, the non-
profit’s river steward program
director, said in a statement
that the problems facing steel-
head and chinook protected
under the Endangered Species
Act go far beyond sea lion pre-
dation. “River Stewards in the
upper Willamette Basins have
been calling on fisheries man-
agers to shut down harvest on
these ESA-listed fish, reform
hatchery practices, restore
access to historical habitat,
and invest in solutions to the
systemic problems of wild
fish decline,” he said. “Finger
pointing at a singular cause is
counter-productive to address-
ing the underlying problems
and are just temporary and
emergency measures.”
For years, lawmakers have
pushed for more latitude to
intervene at Bonneville and
prevent sea lions from snack-
ing on spring Chinook salmon
there. But state officials say
the threat to steelhead on the
Willamette River now poses a
much greater risk.
In 2017, just 512 native
steelhead made it past Wil-
lamette Falls on their jour-
ney to spawning grounds on
the North and South Santiam,
Molalla and Calapooia Riv-
ers. That’s the lowest winter
steelhead run ever recorded,
$
$
$
F F O
By ANDREW THEEN
The Oregonian
$
$
F F
O
O
F F
F F O
TIMBERLANDS CLOSED
fan
on
off
auto
DUE TO HIGH FIRE DANGER
Lewis & Clark Timberlands
wattsmart is registered in U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
are CLOSED as of August 1, 2017 to all public
entry and will remain in effect until further notice.
For up-to-date
information
please call our
TIMBERLANDS CLOSED
W EDNESDAY E VENING
(2)
(-)
(-)
(6)
(-)
(8)
(9)
(10)
(12)
(13)
(-)
(20)
(-)
(29)
(30)
(31)
(32)
(34)
(35)
(36)
(38)
(39)
(43)
(44)
(45)
(46)
(47)
(48)
(49)
(50)
(51)
(52)
(53)
(54)
(56)
(57)
(58)
(61)
(63)
(64)
(65)
(162)
L
KATU
KOMO
KING
KOIN
KIRO
KGW
KRCW
KOPB
KPTV
KPDX
KCPQ
TBS
KZJO
ESPN
ESPN2
NICK
DISN
FAM
FMC
LIFE
ROOT
FS1
SPIKE
COM
HIST
A&E
TLC
DISC
NGEO
TNT
AMC
USA
FOOD
HGTV
FX
CNN
FNC
CNBC
BRAV
TCM
SYFY
RFD
(2)
(4)
(5)
(-)
(7)
(-)
(3)
(10)
(12)
(-)
(13)
(20)
(22)
(29)
(30)
(31)
(32)
(34)
(35)
(36)
(38)
(39)
(43)
(44)
(45)
(46)
(47)
(48)
(49)
(50)
(51)
(52)
(53)
(54)
(56)
(57)
(58)
(61)
(63)
(64)
(65)
(162)
6 PM
WHERE:
The Loft at the Red Building
20 Basin Street Suite F
Astoria, OR 97103
WHEN:
Tuesday,
September 12, 2017
6 - 8 p.m.
REGISTER: Seating is limited.
LISTINGS
THE DAILY
ASTORIAN
A
We’re pleased to present a
free Be wattsmart Workshop
for Pacific Power customers.
Please join us for dinner and an
enlightening evening of energy
expertise. This workshop will
put you on the path to lower
electric bills by offering hands-
on demonstrations and advice
to help you evaluate your
household energy use.
Sign up by September 8 at
pacificpower.net/bewattsmart
© 2017 Pacific Power
RECREATIONAL
HOTLINE
503-738-6351 Ext. 2
68˚
78
Evening listings
WEDNESDAY
S EPTEMBER 6
A - Charter Astoria/ Seaside - L - Charter Long Beach
6:30
7 PM
7:30
8 PM
8:30
9 PM
9:30
10 PM
10:30
11 PM
11:30
KATU News at 6 (N)
Jeopardy!
Wheel of Fortune The Goldbergs
Speechless
Modern Family
Amer. Housewife Modern Family
The Goldbergs
KATU News (N)
(:35) Jimmy Kimmel
KOMO 4 News (N)
Wheel of Fortune Jeopardy!
The Goldbergs
Speechless
Modern Family
Amer. Housewife Modern Family
The Goldbergs
KOMO 4 News (N) (:35) Jimmy Kimmel
NBC News (N)
KING 5 News
KING 5 News
Evening
America-Talent "Live Results Four" (N) Marlon (N)
Marlon (N)
Game Night "Keep It Unreal" (N)
KING 5 News
(:35) Tonight Show
KOIN Local 6 (N) Evening News (N) Extra
Ent. Tonight
Big Brother (N)
Salvation "All In" (N)
Criminal Minds "Green Light"
KOIN 6 News (N) (:35) Colbert
KIRO 7 News (N) Evening News (N) The Insider
Ent. Tonight
Big Brother (N)
Salvation "All In" (N)
Criminal Minds "Green Light"
KIRO News (N)
(:35) Colbert
KGW News at 6:00 p.m. (N)
Live at 7 (N)
Inside Edition
America-Talent "Live Results Four" (N) Marlon (N)
Marlon (N)
Game Night "Keep It Unreal" (N)
KGW News (N)
(:35) Tonight Show
Last Man Standing Last Man Standing Modern Family
Modern Family
Arrow "Underneath"
Supernatural
News at 10 (N)
Two and a Half
Two and a Half
Met Your Mother
Journeys in Japan Business (N)
PBS NewsHour (N)
Nova "Eclipse Over America"
Roy Orbison: Black & White Night 30
Financial Solutions
6 O'Clock News (N)
Family Feud
Family Feud
MasterChef "Chopsticks and Pasta" (N) MasterChef "Pop-Up Restaurant" (N)
10 O'Clock News (N)
News (N)
Raising Hope
Mike & Molly
Mike & Molly
Big Bang Theory Big Bang Theory FOX 12's News (N)
9 O'Clock News (N)
Family Guy
Family Guy
American Dad!
Cleveland Show
Modern Family
Modern Family
Big Bang Theory Big Bang Theory MasterChef "Chopsticks and Pasta" (N) MasterChef "Pop-Up Restaurant" (N)
Q13 News at 10 (N)
Q13 News (N)
The Simpsons
Seinfeld Pt. 1 of 2 Seinfeld Pt. 2 of 2 Seinfeld
Seinfeld
Big Bang Theory Big Bang Theory Big Bang Theory Big Bang Theory Big Bang Theory Full Frontal
Conan "Comic-Con 2017"
Last Man Standing Last Man Standing Friends
Friends
Modern Family
Modern Family
Q13 News at 9 (N)
Big Bang Theory Big Bang Theory Two and a Half
Two and a Half
(4:00) ITF Tennis U.S. Open (L)
SportsCenter (N)
SportsCenter With Scott Van Pelt (N) SportsCenter (N)
SportsCenter (N)
30 for 30 "Four Falls of Buffalo"
E:60
The Fantasy Show
SportsCenter
Jalen & Jacoby (N) Mano a Mano
Jalen & Jacoby
The Loud House
Henry Danger
The Thundermans
The Thundermans NickyRickyDicky Full House
Full House
Full House
Full House
Friends
Friends
Jessie
Bunk'd
K.C. Undercover K.C. Undercover Raven's Home
Stuck in Middle
Bizaardvark
Bizaardvark
Liv and Maddie
K.C. Undercover Bizaardvark
Raven's Home
(5:05) Grease (‘78) Olivia Newton-John, John Travolta.
(:45) Forrest Gump (1994, Comedy/Drama) Sally Field, Gary Sinise, Tom Hanks.
The 700 Club
(5:00) The Maze Runner Dylan O'Brien.
(:20) The Maze Runner (2014, Sci-Fi) Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Will Poulter, Dylan O'Brien.
(:35) FXM Presents Shanghai Knights (2003, Adventure) Owen Wilson, Donnie Yen, Jackie Chan.
Grey's A. "Tell Me Sweet Little Lies"
Couples Retreat "Busting Up"
C. Retreat (N)
(:50) Women (N)
Couples Retreat "Flight or Fight" (N)
G. Up Supermodel "Mama Bears" (N) Couples Retreat "Flight or Fight"
Mariners Access MarinersPre-game MLB Baseball Houston Astros at Seattle Mariners Site: Safeco Field -- Seattle, Wash. (L)
Post-game
Press Pass (N)
MLB Baseball Houston vs Seattle
(4:00) MLB Baseball Kan./Det. (L)
TUF: A New Champion "Fight!" (N)
TUF Talk (N)
MLB Whiparound (L)
UFC Top Ten
TUF: A New Champion "Fight!"
TUF Talk
UFC Countdown
Cops
Cops
Cops
Cops
Cops
Cops
Cops
Cops
Cops
Cops
Cops
Cops
South Park
South Park
South Park
South Park
South Park
South Park
South Park
South Park
South Park
Broad City
The Daily Show (N) The Daily Show
(5:00) 9/ 11 State of Emergency
Road to 9/11 "The Bin Ladens (1995-2000)" 2/3
Road to 9/11 "The Days of Terror (2000-2003)" 3/3 (N)
(:05) Road "The Bin Ladens (1995-2000)"
Storage Wars
Storage Wars
Wahlburgers
Wahlburgers
Wahlburgers
Wahlburgers
Wahlburgers (N) Wahlburgers (N) The Lowe Files (N) Wahlburgers
(:05) Wahlburgers (:35) Wahlburgers
Say Yes-Dress
Say Yes-Dress
NY ER
NY ER
NY ER
NY ER
NY ER
NY ER
NY ER
NY ER
NY ER
NY ER
Misfit Garage
Misfit Garage
Misfit Garage "Spurred for a Ford" (N) Misfit Garage "Boom or Bust" (N)
Garage Rehab "Westside Hotrods" (N) Misfit Garage "Boom or Bust"
Alaska Troopers "Asleep at the Wheel" Bullets Over Boston: The Irish Mob
Tijuana Drug Lords
Miami Drug Cartel
Locked up "Masters of Disguise" (N)
Philly Mob
Superman Returns (2006, Action) Parker Posey, Kate Bosworth, Kevin Spacey.
(5:30) Eagle Eye (‘08) Billy Bob Thornton, Michelle Monaghan, Shia LaBeouf.
Battle Los Angeles
Twister (1996, Action) Bill Paxton, Jami Gertz, Helen Hunt.
The Silence of the Lambs (‘91) Jodie Foster.
(5:00) Seven (1995, Thriller) Brad Pitt, Gwyneth Paltrow, Morgan Freeman.
Law & Order: S.V.U. "Annihilated"
Law&Order: SVU "Transgender Bridge" Law&Order: SVU "Melancholy Pursuit" Suits "Shame" (N)
The Sinner "Part VI" (N)
Law & Order: S.V.U. "Double Strands"
WorstCooks "Eat, Pray, Love"
Worst Cooks in America "Timer's Up" WorstCooks "Celebrity: Shabby to Chic" Worst Cooks in America (N)
Cooks vs. Cons "Spice and Ice" (N)
Cooks vs. Cons "Egg Fight"
Property "Not Ready for the Suburbs"
Property Bros. "Condo to Countryside" Property Brothers
Buying/ Sell "No Horsing Around" (N)
House Hunters (N) House Hunters (N) Listed Sisters (N)
Furious 7 (2015, Action) Paul Walker, Jason Statham, Vin Diesel.
(4:30) Guardians of the Galaxy
Snowfall "The Rubicon" (SF) (N)
(:15) Snowfall "The Rubicon"
Anderson Cooper 360
CNN Tonight With Don Lemon
CNN Tonight With Don Lemon
Anderson Cooper 360
Anderson Cooper 360
CNN Tonight With Don Lemon
The Five
Hannity
Tucker Carlson Tonight
The Five
Hannity
Tucker Carlson Tonight
Shark Tank
Shark Tank
Adventure Capitalists "Ocean"
AdventureCapitalists "Lake/ Mountain" Adventure Capitalists "Desert"
Paid Program
Vanderpump Rules
Vanderpump Rules
Vander-JaxBritt
Vander-JaxBritt
Vanderpump (N) Odd Mom Out (N) Below Deck
WatchWhat
Vander-JaxBritt
On a Clear Day You Can See Forever (‘70) Yves Montand, Barbra Streisand.
(5:00) Little Annie Rooney
Showfolk
(:45) A Hole in the Head (1959, Comedy) Eddie Hodges, Eleanor Parker, Frank Sinatra.
Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare (‘91) Lisa Zane, Robert Englund.
Priest (2011, Action) Cam Gigandet, Maggie Q, Paul Bettany.
Blood Drive
Game Face "Things Get Harry"
Cowboy TV
Cowboy Moments Women's Rodeo Equestrian Nation Total Team Roping Rural Eve. News Racer's Edge
WesternSport
Cowboy TV
Cowboy Moments Product Showcase
D E L ’S O .K . T IR E