Sturgeon, Salmon, Steelhead Chronicles

Link: http://www.nwfish.com

The columbia river has some of the best fishing in the world for salmon, sturgeon, walleye and steelhead. The Columbia River once had salmon runs exceeding by far 10 million fish a year. This river in addition to the many salmon and steelhead runs is home to the worlds largest white sturgeon population. Today is different than the days of the early settlers of the pacific northwest. Today after roughly two centuries of mans influence on this once mighty river, the fish that inhabit it are in trouble and have been for over 50 years. Combine the effects of dozens of dams, agricultural water use, mining, timber harvest, commercial fisheries and an ever increasing human population the fish are having serious problems. The Federal government on one hand has the Endagered Species Act that requires that we protect these fish, many runs are already listed and have been for a long time. The Feds on the other hand are in charge of the dams that hold back the necessary water for the fish to migrate for power distribution and to irrigate barren ground for large farming operations. The Feds also have to ensure the commercial fisheries stay vibrant. The fish during the attempt to balance all of this are left to suffer. Sport fishing while still great many years often falls victim to low fish numbers because of the actions of the very government that is supposed to be taking care of the fish. Imagine what the fishing would be like if the fish were placed at the top of the priority list instead of at the bottom. Finally it appears that the Feds are starting to come around, announcing several major Dam removals and other related projects to restore historic fish habitat on a few rivers in Oregon. Lets hope for the Columbia and its tributaries they figure out that those fish need water too. Give salmon the habitat and water conditions they need and they will thrive, take it away and they die.