Earlier this spring, ODFW published a thorough assessment of wild summer steelhead health throughout the North Umpqua basin and initiated critical monitoring programs for future runs. In the summer of 2021, ODFW district staff closed sport fisheries on the mainstem Umpqua and North Umpqua rivers in response to the lowest return of wild summer steelhead on record. Over the past year, the Commission and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife took initial measures to protect and evaluate the health of wild summer steelhead in response to severe declines in fish returns. “The continued presence of hatchery fish on the spawning beds would have slowed the recovery and depressed the eventual size of the wild steelhead run.” “We are thrilled to see the Commission end the hatchery summer steelhead program,” Steamboaters Board of Directors Member Karl Konecny said. By beginning the transition to an all-wild-fish management strategy, the Commission has protected imperiled wild summer steelhead from the negative impacts of hatchery fish. – Today, after four hours of presentation, comment, and deliberation, the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission voted to end the summer steelhead hatchery program on the North Umpqua River. Hatchery program ended to aid recovery of iconic wild fishĪSTORIA, Ore.

Oregon Steps Up Protections for Imperiled North Umpqua Summer Steelhead April 23rd -From the North Umpqua Coalition

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