August 2, 2005

Eureka Times-Standard

For the second year in a row, one of the cleanest and wildest tributaries to the Klamath River is seeing exceptionally low numbers of spring salmon.

Divers checking for fish in the Salmon River, which pours out of wilderness areas and drains into the Klamath at Somes Bar, found only a few dozen fish in July, the lowest number in 25 years. In a river that averages about 750 wild spring chinook salmon each year, 83 is too few for comfort.

It follows last year's poor run of wild spring chinook on the North Fork of the Trinity River -- the other remnant of the Klamath's once-abundant wild spring fishery. It also follows last year's poor fall runs on the Salmon, Scott and Shasta rivers.

The fish are important in the diet of Yurok and Hupa tribal members, but their numbers are so low that further restrictions on fishing in the river and in the ocean may begin to be considered, according to a state biologist.

Why the fish are having such trouble is unknown. Dams built on the Klamath prevent the once wide-ranging runs from reaching spawning grounds; poor water quality, and disease can affect all spring fish migrating up the river; and logging, mining and overfishing are all believed to have suppressed the Klamath's runs. Ocean conditions can also create highs and lows in salmon runs.

The Salmon River, with its deep, clean pools has been a refuge for these fish.

"Relative to some of the other basins, the Salmon River is in pretty good shape," said Yurok biologist Dave Hillemeier. "But the same fish do have to migrate up the Klamath River."

Runs on the Salmon have fluctuated wildly. Following a period of relative abundance in the mid-1980s, the Salmon River Restoration Council watched springers, as they're called, drop off to under 400 fish a year for four years. The run then jumped to around 1,300 for five years before dropping off again.

But there have never been so few as this summer.

"It doesn't surprise me that they're low," said California Department of Fish and Game biologist Neil Manji, "it surprises me that they're that low."

Since the spring run's abundance appears linked to fall run numbers, Manji said there is some worry that fishery managers may have overestimated the fall run -- and harvest allocations.

To date, the predicted abundance of fall-run fish has governed how many fish tribes, ocean and river anglers are allowed to catch, and it was assumed the measures would protect springers. But with spring-run fish numbers so low, Manji said managers may have to specifically factor in spring chinook into restrictions.

The Pacific Fishery Management Council can already do that, but Manji said the numbers of spring fish available to plug into models may not be enough to back additional restrictions.

Hillemeier said one significant concern is that the runs not drop so low that they can't act as a resource to restore other runs should dams on the Klamath be removed someday.

"Places like the Salmon River might be some of the best brood stock to use for those efforts," Hillemeier said.

Source:  http://www.times-standard.com/Stories/0,1413,127~2896~2992023,00.html