July 29,1983
Spilyay Tymoo
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Management, protection vital to . . .
Trap provides data on fish returns
W ith th e n u m b e r o f
f i s h e r m e n f i s h i n g th e
Deschutes River on the rise,
dams blocking the passage
between spawning grounds and
the ocean and increased
recreational use of the river,
salmon and steelhead fisheries
face a threat to their existence.
D im inishing retu rn s spur
biologists to seek ways of
maintaining adequate popula
tion levels.
A fish trap installed recently
at Sherar’s Bridge on the
Deschutes River is one way
biologists are able to see what’s
going on in the river. Data
collected at this site provides
information.on escapement of
steelhead and fall chinook over
Sherar’s Falls.
A certain number of fish
must return to spawning
grounds upriver in order to
maintain appropriate popula
tion levels providing for all the
needs of Deschutes River users.
Photo courtesy o f Don Ratliff
Besides counting fish, the
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife employees install fish trap near Sherar’s Falls enabling trap, operated by the Oregon
D epartm ent of Fish and
escapement count o f fa ll chinook and steelhead.
Wildlife, enables, biologists to
study life cycles of returning
salmon and steelhead and the
various ages at which they
return.
Installed for the first time in
1977, return of progeny from
the first spawning season are
now being seen. With a life
cycle from four to five years
collected date is now beginning
to have some meaning for
biologists.
A cco rd in g to research
biologist K irk Schroeder,
efficient analysis of the data
can come only after years of
collecting it. “To really look at
this with certainty takes 10 to
15 years,” he says.
With this data and results of
counts taken at Sherar’s Bridge
of harvested salmon and
steelhead by sport and dipnet
fis h e rm e n , e s tim a te s o f
escapement can be accurately
made. All of this taken together
gives ample data to estimate
fish population levels in future
runs.
The trap will remain in the
river until October 31 so all
returning salmon and steelhead
can be counted.
Task force to identify problems at Sherar’s, recommend solutions
reasons,” he said.
The source of financing for
the proposed site development,
w h ich is a p p r o x im a te ly
$500,000, is unknown. State
funds would be available, but
Clements questioned the state’s
involvement, saying there are
too many restrictions and that
possibly the Tribe will lose
control of the area.
However, Councilman Larry
Calica stated that he didn’t feel
it was important where the
money came from, just as long
as the area was developed and
patroled adequately.
T ribal atto rn e y D ennis
Kamopp said it is important
to gain control of the area for
the purpose of protection of the
water and land. “We need to
gain some kind of control of the
river use.” Clements again
stated that he wanted the Tribe
to have complete control over
the site.
The expense of the proposed
development, of the camp
grounds could be recovered
, from fees charged for the use of
‘ those areas. It was proposed
that the Tribe follow the same
fee
schedule used by the state,
^1-
Coyote News 1
$5 per night during the summer
and $4 per night during the
winter.
A p p r o x im a te ly 36,000
rafters take out at Sherar’s
★ * ★ * * * ♦ * Spilyay Tymoo S ta ff* ♦ * ♦ * . ★ ♦ *
during a nine month season. “It
would not be difficult to
MANAGING EDITOR ..
.
. . . . . Sid Miller
amortize development funds” if
ASSISTANT EDITOR . . .. . . . . / . . ......... Donna Behrend
a rafter fee was initiated, said
Dark'room/Writer
Marsha Shewczyk
Karnopp.
Reporter '£
Pat Leno
Warm Springs Chief of
Police Jeff Sanders presented
Typesetter
'
Priscilla Squiemphen
f o u r la w e n f o r c e m e n t
propositions. The fourth and
FOUNDED IN MARCH OF 1976
feast expensive, approximately
$19,000, was preferred by
Published bi-weekly by the Confederated Tribes of the
Sanders. He proposed that one
Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon. Warm Springs,
officer be hired to work the
Oregon 97761. Located in the Old Administration Building.
area six months a year.
Any written material to Spilyay Tymoo should be addressed
Yet to be selected by Tribal
to:
Council is the Sherar’s Bridge
committee. The committee,
Spilyay Tymoo
consisting of fishermen who
P.O. Box 735
use the area, will be selected by
Warm Springs, Oregon 97761
fellow-fishermen and it will be
Phone 553-1644 or 553-1161, Ext. 274, 285 , their responsibility to decide
and The Darkroom ext. 286
th e a c tu a l fis h in g site
allocations and to handle any
Subscription Rate: $6.00 per year
D ev elo p ed to id en tify Council was presented with
problefns that exist at the development concepts for a raft
Sherar’s Bridge, fishing site and take-out site, campground and
to recommend to the Warm day use areas. Also presented
S p rin g s T r ib a l C o u n c il was a law enforcement plan for
solutions to those problems, a Sherar’s Bridge.
seven-member task force has
One concern mentioned
been working since mid-May during the presentation was
developing. recommendations that of the rafters and the ta ke-
and working up a comprehen- out sites used. Many rafters,
siv e d e v e l o p m e n t a n d said one fishermen, are abusive
management plan for the area. and intoxicated when putting
The Sherar’s Bridge Task out. When in this condition,
F orce, chaired by trib al said the fishermen, it is
a tto rn e y Jim N o teb o o m , dangerous for the rafters as
consists of Delbert Frank, Sr., well as the people fishing. She
Ellen Heath, Jeromé Main, Jeff urged the council to act quickly
Sanders, Merrit Y oungdeer on any plans for the area.
and Gene Greene. The task
Councilman Mike Clements
force has dealt 'With three also stated that there are
primary areas of concern, those “treaty reasons why rafters
being general la w enforcement, shouldn’t go” beyond the
allocation of fishing sites and proposed take-out develop
ment site, which is one mile
management of the area.
The task force was directed above the bridge. When the
by Tribal Council to draw up rafters go farther, fisheries are
plans and recommendations disturbed. “The BIA needs to
for the site. July 26, Tribal help us uphold these treaty
S p ily a y T ym oo
Photo courtesy of Don RatUff
disputes that may arise. I he
committee will operate in a
traditional way, similar to the
Celilo fishing committee.
Though these plans are still
in the working stages and
nothing has yet been decided as
far as site development and law
enforcement goes, it is felt by
some that the matters are
urgent and should be dealt with
quickly.