Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (June 13, 2019)
NORTHWEST East Oregonian A2 Thursday, June 13, 2019 Fish passage above biggest dam can be done Researchers present findings that salmon can survive in the upper reaches of the Columbia Basin the Upper Columbia. We’ve been the most impacted and the least mitigated, so it’s important to look at how that funding hasn’t made it above (the dams), just like the salmon,” said John Sirois, with the Upper Columbia United Tribes. To bring fish back to the region, the research- ers looked at 40 different stocks of fish and five dif- ferent species. Baseline estimates show there could be up to 24,000 harvested adult summer and fall chinook, with 14,000 fish making it past anglers. Computer models showed there could be 21,000 har- vested adult sockeye, with 26,000 fish returning to spawning grounds. They checked for patho- gens that could harm fish in the blocked area and found only one pathogen that hadn’t made it past the two dams. “Anadromy brings patho- gens, that’s part of the deal. The important take-home point is: In any reintroduc- tion, we need to be careful and cognizant of that,” said Casey Baldwin, with The Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation. The researchers found there is ample habitat avail- able, although much of the habitat in the Spokane Sub-Basin is blocked by By COURTNEY FLATT Oregon Public Broadcasting SPOKANE, Wash. — It’s been nearly 80 years since salmon and steel- head made it past Chief Joseph and Grand Cou- lee dams in Washington’s Upper Columbia Basin. It’s long been a goal for tribes to see the fish return to the blocked waters where they once spawned. A team of researchers presented their findings on Tuesday to the Northwest Power and Conservation Council. In short, they said, salmon can survive in the upper reaches of the Colum- bia Basin, and fish passage needs to happen at the two dams. For several years biolo- gists have looked into sce- narios for salmon above the dams — if there was enough habitat available, if patho- gens and predators wouldn’t cause too much damage, if there were even ways to get the fish around the concrete structures. “We feel strongly it’s time to start investing in Bureau of Reclamation Photo, File The last time salmon and steelhead made it past Chief Joseph and Grand Coulee dams in Washington’s Upper Columbia Basin was nearly 80 years ago. Tribes have long sought to see the fish return to the blocked waters where they once spawned. dams on the Spokane River. The researchers estimated there could be more than 136 miles of habitat reach for spring chinook salmon and 452 miles for steelhead of habitat not affected by those diversions. “There is obviously large quantities of habitat in that area, enough to support a substantial increase in the number of adults being pro- duced. Passage technol- ogy is out there,” said Tom Biladeau, with The Coeur d’Alene Tribe. One new way to get fish around the dams could trap and collect the fish are called floating surface col- lectors. They attract juve- nile fish, which can then be transferred by truck or barge around the dams. When the researchers removed those Forecast for Pendleton Area TODAY FRIDAY Partly sunny and hot NORTHWEST IN BRIEF SATURDAY Sunshine SUNDAY Plenty of sunshine MONDAY Partly sunny Mostly sunny and pleasant PENDLETON TEMPERATURE FORECAST 92° 59° 83° 53° 86° 60° 87° 60° 85° 57° HERMISTON TEMPERATURE FORECAST 98° 62° 89° 58° 92° 64° 93° 64° OREGON FORECAST 91° 60° ALMANAC Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows. PENDLETON through 3 p.m. yest. HIGH LOW TEMP. Seattle Olympia 66/53 84/58 94/53 Longview Kennewick Walla Walla 93/62 Lewiston 75/54 98/61 Astoria 65/52 Pullman Yakima 96/58 78/50 92/64 Portland Hermiston 85/57 The Dalles 98/62 Salem Corvallis 82/49 Yesterday Normals Records La Grande 86/52 PRECIPITATION John Day Eugene Bend 86/50 87/49 86/56 Ontario 90/58 Caldwell Burns 93° 54° 78° 53° 104° (1940) 41° (1956) 24 hours ending 3 p.m. Month to date Normal month to date Year to date Last year to date Normal year to date Albany 85/50 0.00" Trace 0.29" 4.42" 5.00" 5.40" WINDS (in mph) 87/58 83/47 0.00" 0.05" 0.63" 9.33" 6.33" 7.14" through 3 p.m. yest. HIGH LOW TEMP. Pendleton 82/47 86/51 24 hours ending 3 p.m. Month to date Normal month to date Year to date Last year to date Normal year to date HERMISTON Enterprise 92/59 90/59 90° 55° 77° 52° 99° (1940) 32° (1893) PRECIPITATION Moses Lake 79/53 Aberdeen 88/59 92/61 Tacoma Yesterday Normals Records Spokane Wenatchee 79/56 collectors from the models, adult spawning numbers dropped dramatically. “That’s just the model pointing out how much influence some of these juvenile collection facilities may have,” Biladeau said. Other ways to get the adult fish around the dams could include collecting fish at the Chief Joseph hatchery and hauling them around the dam or a fish ladder down stream of the dam. At Grand Coulee Dam, the largest on the Colum- bia, there could be another trap and haul system or potentially the use of a sys- tem that’s been dubbed the “salmon cannon,” which can suck fish up and send them over big obstructions. For the second part of the study, the tribes would test salmon reintroductions in the area. One big thing to study could be how invasive northern pike affect salmon above Grand Coulee Dam — the predatory fish tend to eat pretty much any fish they come across. The tribes said they’re not sure what would happen in that situation. “The plan moving for- ward is to have three or four years of releases (of salmon), and to be moni- toring that, looking at what that impact is over that period of time. Hopefully we’ll have enough informa- tion to know, ‘Is the effort of suppression sufficient right now?’” said Brent Nichols, with the Spokane Tribe of Indians. The next step in getting salmon above the dams is for the tribes to work with dam operators and figure out the price tag of several ways to get the fish around the dams. Today Fri. Boardman WSW 10-20 Pendleton WSW 8-16 Medford 96/59 WSW 7-14 W 8-16 SUN AND MOON Klamath Falls 85/48 Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2019 Sunrise today Sunset tonight Moonrise today Moonset today 5:05 a.m. 8:45 p.m. 4:54 p.m. 3:08 a.m. Full Last New First June 17 June 25 July 2 July 9 NATIONAL EXTREMES Yesterday’s National Extremes: (for the 48 contiguous states) High 118° in Thermal, Calif. Low 27° in Yellowstone Nat'l Park, Wyo. NATIONAL WEATHER TODAY School worker quits after making ‘picking cotton’ remarks PORTLAND (AP) — The North Clack- amas School District says an employee has resigned following an investigation into “inappropriate racialized comments” made last week, the district confirmed Tuesday. The Oregonian/OregonLive reports a district spokesperson said an instruc- tional assistant made references to slave and manual labor during lunch at Linwood Elementary School in Milwaukie on May 31. Fifth-grade parent Syreeta Spencer says the employee reprimanded a group of students, which Spencer described as mostly students of color, for being too loud during lunch. The employee told the students they were lucky they weren’t “picking cotton and cleaning or painting a house.” District officials said the employee was put on leave June 5, several days after the incident. The investigation ended two days later with the employee’s resignation. Spencer says the school is hosting a conversation for students to share experi- ences and ask questions related to minority issues. Man sentenced for driving drunk, killing 2 Warm Springs men PORTLAND (AP) — A man will spend nearly six years in prison for driv- ing drunk, speeding along a dark road at night without headlights and striking and killing two young men on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation. The Oregonian/OregonLive reports in a plea deal, Harold Blackwolf Jr. will spend the time in federal prison after pleading guilty to two counts of involuntary man- slaughter in the Sept. 28, 2017, crash and one count of illegally possessing a gun. Warm Springs’ public safety general manager Carmen Smith says 25-year-old Nathan Youngman and 22-year-old Eric Boise were killed in the crash. In court, Blackwolf apologized and promised to spend time in prison working to become a better, sober person. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Malo- ney says Blackwolf had been drinking at a friend’s home earlier that night and left the scene afterward, ditching his car and fleeing. Businesses, hospitals pledge $49M for homeless housing SEATTLE (AP) — Tech companies, hospitals and others have pledged nearly $49 million to help construct eight build- ings to house chronically homeless in the Seattle area. The Seattle Times reported Tuesday that Swedish Health Services, Premera Blue Cross and Providence St. Joseph Health announced $15 million in dona- tions last month to support a Seattle non- profit developer. Plymouth Housing has launched a $75 million campaign to double its units in Seattle. It operates facilities for chron- ically homeless people where they have access to health care, social services and treatment. Amazon and Microsoft have each pledged $5 million for the campaign Plymouth says the donations will help it leverage up to $250 million in public funds for the project. Woman sues Oregon sheriff over immigration detainer ROSEBURG (AP) — A woman who was deported to Mexico after posting bail at an Oregon jail has sued the sher- iff in that county, alleging he violated her rights when he held her for federal immigration authorities after she had posted bail. Oregon Public Broadcasting reported Wednesday that Irene Lopez-Flores was arrested on allegations of theft and com- puter crime in December 2017 in Roseburg. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforce- ment placed an immigration detainer on her a day after her arrest. Court filings allege that Lopez-Flores’ father paid the $1,500 in bail, but the jail held her for two more hours to allow immi- gration officers to assume custody. The lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Eugene alleges Sheriff John Hanlin exe- cuted an unlawful arrest and detention. The sheriff’s office declined to comment. Shown are noon positions of weather systems and precipitation. Temperature bands are highs for the day. -10s -0s 0s showers t-storms 10s rain 20s flurries 30s snow 40s 50s ice 60s cold front E AST O REGONIAN — Founded Oct. 16, 1875 — 211 S.E. Byers Ave., Pendleton 541-276-2211 333 E. Main St., Hermiston 541-567-6211 Office hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed major holidays EastOregonian.com To subscribe, call 1-800-522-0255 or go online to EastOregonian.com and click on ‘Subscribe’ East Oregonian (USPS 164-980) is published daily except Sunday, Monday and postal holidays, by the EO Media Group, 211 S.E. Byers Ave. Pendleton, OR 97801. Periodicals postage paid at Pendleton, OR. Postmaster: send address changes to East Oregonian, 211 S.E. Byers Ave. Pendleton, OR 97801. Copyright © 2019, EO Media Group 70s 80s 90s 100s warm front stationary front high 110s CORRECTIONS: The East Oregonian works hard to be accurate and sincerely regrets any errors. If you notice a mistake in the paper, please call 541-966-0818. low Subscriber services: For mail delivery, online access, vacation stops or delivery concerns call 1-800-522-0255 ext. 1 SUBSCRIPTION RATES EZPay 52 weeks 26 weeks 13 weeks Local home delivery Savings (cover price) $13/month 60 percent $173.67 41 percent $91.86 38 percent $47.77 36 percent *EZ Pay = one-year rate with a monthly credit or debit card/check charge Single copy price: $1.50 Tuesday through Saturday Circulation Dept. 800-781-3214 ADVERTISING Regional Publisher and Revenue Director: • Christopher Rush 541-278-2669 • crush@eomediagroup.com Advertising Services: • Angela Treadwell 541-966-0827 • atreadwell@eastoregonian.com • Grace Bubar 541-276-2214 • gbubar@eastoregonian.com Multimedia Consultants: • Jeanne Jewett 541-564-4531 • jjewett@eastoregonian.com • Audra Workman 541-564-4538 • aworkman@eastoregonian.com Business Office Coordinator • Dayle Stinson 541-278-2670 • dstinson@eastoregonian.com Classified & Legal Advertising 1-800-962-2819 or 541-278-2678 classifieds@eastoregonian.com or legals@eastoregonian.com NEWS • To submit news tips and press releases: call 541-966-0818 or email news@eastoregonian.com • To submit community events, calendar items and Your EO News: email community@eastoregonian.com or call Tammy Malgesini at 541-564-4539 or Renee Struthers at 541-966-0818. • To submit engagements, weddings and anniversaries: email rstruthers@eastoregonian.com or visit eastoregonian. com/community/announcements • To submit sports or outdoors information or tips: 541-966-0838 • sports@eastoregonian.com Business Office Manager: 541-966-0824 COMMERCIAL PRINTING Production Manager: Mike Jensen 541-215-0824 • mjensen@eastoregonian.com
