CCA Oregon is engaged in several key issues that will determine the future of salmon, hatcheries, and recreational fisheries in the Willamette River Basin. We wanted to update you on these efforts.
The most urgent issue relates to a nearly $1 million federal funding shortfall for Willamette Valley Basin hatchery production that would impact salmon, steelhead, and trout fisheries. CCA Oregon is working with federal, and state elected officials to secure the funding needed to maintain current hatchery production levels.
In one piece of good news, Congresswoman Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-5) recently sent a letter to the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) urging it to fully fund this hatchery production. (To read letter CLICK HERE).
There are also serious concerns about the long-term commitment of the federal government to recover salmon and support local fisheries through continued hatchery mitigation. It is critical that Oregon’s federal and state elected officials continue holding the federal government accountable for its salmon recovery and mitigation responsibilities.
More Coming
We will update you on any key developments and how you can help in the coming weeks.
Background
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recently informed the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) that it lacks sufficient funding to maintain current hatchery production for salmon, steelhead, and trout. For decades, the USACE has contracted with ODFW to produce hatchery fish make up for the significant impacts of the Willamette Valley hydroelectric project – a system of 13 dams and reservoirs across the valley – on wild salmon and steelhead populations.
Our regional fisheries director, Heath Heikkila, recently discussed this with Oregon Congressional Delegation staff in Washington, DC and in Oregon to outline concerns with the funding reductions. Heath emphasized the importance of Congress and the USACE prioritizing this hatchery mitigation funding as a fundamental obligation.
Other fishing groups have also been urging Oregon’s Congressional delegation to pressure the USACE to provide the short-term funding needed to maintain current hatchery production levels for salmon, steelhead, and trout. CCA was active in a previous successful effort to reverse similar proposed funding reductions. We believe there’s still time to reverse these cuts and avoid the negative impacts on fisheries and local economies, but we must act now.
The USACE is also considering the long-term future of the Willamette Valley hydroelectric project through consultations under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and as directed by Congress in the Water Resources Development Act of 2022, which required a report to Congress considering the removal of hydropower as an authorized purpose – in whole or in part – from the Willamette Valley system of hydropower and flood control dams. If the USACE recommends major changes to the purpose of these dams, we must ensure that the federal government continues meeting its recovery and mitigation responsibilities to local communities.
Last year, CCA Oregon provided written comment on the USACE’s draft Environmental Impact Statement for a separate process required to continue operating the Willamette Valley Project under the ESA. Our comments outlined concerns with alternatives that propose reducing hatchery mitigation programs without first recovering wild salmon populations to levels that can support meaningful fishing opportunities – a process that will take decades and require significant federal investment.
CCA’s comments also underscored how hatcheries can be operated in a manner that supports, rather than harms, wild salmon recovery efforts, while also providing fish for harvest. Unfortunately, anti-hatchery litigation has already driven reductions in USACE hatchery mitigation programs in the Willamette Valley, including summer Steelhead, and threatens the future of these programs. CCA Oregon is involved at the state level advocating for the importance of our hatcheries, including closely tracking a third-party review of ODFW’s hatchery operations that was mandated by a 2023 budget note.
CCA is also concerned about the future of the Leaburg and McKenzie hatcheries as EWEB moves forward with decommissioning the Leaburg project. We must ensure these facilities can continue operating to mitigate for lost natural fish production, which will take many, many years to recover. It is critical that the USACE conduct the studies needed to ensure that these and other facilities can operate into the future.
Over the past year there has also been tremendous controversy over court-ordered drawdowns of reservoirs to aid out-migrating salmon, although the costs of these changes may far outweigh the benefits. The court-ordered actions are having significant negative impacts on local communities and questions are being raised about their actual fish related gains.
Again, it is critical that Oregon’s federal and state elected officials hold the federal government accountable for its obligations to recover salmon populations and support local fisheries through continued hatchery mitigation.
Stay Tuned
Look to your inbox in the coming weeks when we ask for your support to reach out to legislatures via Action Alert. At that time, your engagement will play a critical role in helping to restore funding.
On behalf of CCA Oregon,
Pat Hoglund
Executive Director