Oregon
Washington
Columbia River Dams and Fish Hatcheries
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Washington |
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Columbia River Dams and Fish Hatcheries |
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Fish Hatcheries are a result of the Columbia River Fisheries Development Program, which was authorized by the Mitchell Act, Public Law 79-676, 16 U.S.C. 756-757. The program was designed to mitigate for fishery losses caused by hydroelectric system development and the construction of dams in the Columbia River Basin. This program uses the facilities and personnel of the State fisheries agencies in the Pacific Northwest to protect and enhance the salmon and steelhead resources in the Columbia River Basin. To date, the fisheries agencies involved in the program have operated twenty hatcheries and rearing ponds, over seven hundred irrigation screens, and more than forty fish ladders, and have conducted hatchery improvement studies. The context for fish management changed dramatically in the last two decades with Endangered Species Act listings, new scientific information, varied climatic and ocean conditions and changing public expectations. On Nov. 8, 2002, the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission adopted, a new Native Fish Conservation Policy to govern native fish conservation and management to provide ecological, cultural, and economic benefits. For more information on the federal fish hatcheries of the Columbia River Gorge, visit the US Fish & Wildlife Service Lower Columbia National Fish Hatcheries or Gifford Pinchot National Forest Pacific Northwest Fisheries Program. Tours can be arranged for any of the Washington state fish hatcheries in advance by contacting Cheri Anderson in the Information and Education Office, (509) 538-2242. For more information on Native Fish Conservation Policy and Hatchery Management Policy, click here. |
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| Oregon Fish Hatcheries | |
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Hydrounit Basin: Lower Columbia River - Sandy River Fish Species: Tule Fall Chinook, URB Fall Chinook, Spring Chinook, and Coho Bonneville Hatchery was constructed in 1909 and was originally funded by the State of Oregon. In 1957 the facility was remodeled and expanded as part of the Columbia River Fisheries Development Program (Mitchell Act). The hatchery underwent another renovation in 1974 as part of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineer's mitigation of fish losses from the construction of the John Day Dam. This hatchery provides fish for the ocean and river fisheries and eggs to other programs. Neighboring Bonneville Dam also has a visitor center. Tours are available. Please call ahead. |
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 Cascade Fish HatcheryHC 66 Box 750 Cascade Locks, OR 97014 (541) 374-8381 Hydrounit Basin: Middle Columbia - Hood Fish Species: Coho Fall Chinook (adults are sometimes collected at this facility and used for backup for other programs) Best time to view: During the fall, visitors can view chinook and coho salmon below the fish rack at the bridge crossing Eagle Creek. |
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Eagle Creek National Fish Hatchery Hydrounit Basin: Clackamas Fish Species: Coho and Winter Steelhead Eagle Creek NFH was authorized under the Mitchell Act and currently operates as part of the Columbia River Fisheries Development Program. The hatchery began operating in 1956. The goal of the hatchery is to help compensate for fish losses in the Columbia River Basin caused by mainstem dams. |
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Oak Springs Fish Hatchery Hydrounit Basin: Lower Deschutes Fish Species: Summer Steelhead, Winter Steelhead (Clackamas River Stock), Winter Steelhead (Hood River Stock), and Rainbow Trout Oak Springs Fish Hatchery raises rainbow trout and summer and winter steelhead. The hatchery egg incubation room is accessible for viewing October - March. Group tours are available by appointment to view trout spawning during October - November. The facility also offers a picnic area, fountain, show pond, hiking and Deschutes River access. This river is a premier trout and steelhead waterway. Good bird watching opportunities are available during spring and fall migration. Best time to view: October - March. |
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Oxbow Oregon Fish Hatchery Hydrounit Basin: Middle Columbia - Hood Fish Species: Coho - Tanner Creek Stock (Umatilla Releases), Coho - Tanner Creek Stock (CEDC Releases), Coho - Mixed Tanner Creek/Sandy River Stock (CEDC Releases), Coho - Tanner Creek Stock (Bonneville Releases), and Spring Chinook (Clackamas Stock) Oxbow Hatchery was originally constructed in 1913 to provide additional rearing facilities for Bonneville Hatchery. It was relocated to its present site in 1937 following construction of Bonneville Dam. Oxbow was operated as part of the Columbia River Fisheries Development Program (Mitchell Act). The goal of the hatchery is to produce coho and spring chinook that will contribute to the Northeast Pacific and Columbia River commercial, tribal, and sports fisheries. Oxbow is a coho salmon hatchery. Fingerlings can be viewed year-round. Though there is no adult fish collection at Oxbow, adult salmon can be seen spawning in Herman Creek (Oxbow's water source) September through November. |
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Round Butte Fish Hatchery Hydrounit Basin: Lower Deschutes Fish Species: Summer Steelhead, Spring Chinook, and Brown Trout This is a spring chinook, summer steelhead and brown trout hatchery, that is owned by Portland General Electric Co. and operated and managed by the Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife. The Pelton Ladder is operated as a satellite rearing facility. The facility is a former fish passage ladder which has had some sections converted for fish rearing. Round Butte Hatchery was constructed in 1972 to mitigate for the fisheries losses caused by Pelton/Round Butte Hydroelectric Complex. Public access by advance arrangements only. Please call ahead. |
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Sandy River Fish Hatchery Hydrounit Basin: Lower Columbia - Sandy Fish Species: Coho Sandy Hatchery began operation in 1951 as a state-funded facility. In 1959, the hatchery became part of the Columbia River Fisheries Development Program (Mitchell Act). This hatchery raises coho salmon. The facility has a small, indoor display area. A trail runs through the grounds offering a good nature hike as well as fishing access to the Sandy River. Hatchery workers are available to answer visitors' questions. Best times to visit: During the peak of spawning activity, beginning in early November, visitors can see adult coho salmon. |
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Warm Springs National Fish Hatchery P.O. Box 790 Warm Springs, Oregon 97761 Phone: 541 553-1692 Fax: 541 553-1551 Hydrounit Basin: Lower Deschutes * River KM were taken from PTAGIS database, Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission. Warm Springs NFH was authorized in 1966 and began operating in 1978. Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon entered into an agreement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to stock the waters of the Water Springs Indian Reservation with salmon and trout to increase fishing opportunities. The goal of the hatchery is to produce spring chinook that will contribute to CTWSRO fisheries while providing adequate escapement for hatchery production. Salmon was an important staple for the Native American tribes of the Mid Columbia Basin. The Wascos and Deschutes bands of the Walla Wallas built scaffolding over falls in the Columbia and its tributaries, where they used long-handled dip nets to harvest the migrating salmon. The Tribal Nations developed an extensive economic network that centered on the mid-Columbia region and depended heavily on the Columbia River and its resources, particularly the salmon. But salmon has always been far more than just a food source for the tribes of the Pacific Northwest. Salmon is also a core part of their religion, literally feeding a bond between the Native peoples and the life-giving waters of Mother Earth. Historically, catching the first spring salmon involved extensive ceremony and approval of the tribal chiefs. Most recently, Indians continue their pursuit of salmon for sustenance and as a part of their cultural heritage; however, few sites such as Celilo Falls, destroyed by the Dalles Dam in 1956, remain. In order to make a living, Native fishermen often sell direct to the public instead of following more traditional marketing methods like selling wholesale to grocery conglomerates. Corporate grocery store chains won't pay enough money to the Native fishermen to allow them to make a living wage, so Natvie fishermen have resolved the issue by taking their fresh catch to the streets. During salmon season, you can often see Native Americans selling fresh salmon alongside the roadside. Cultural aspects of Salmon to the Warm Springs Tribes |
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| Washington Fish Hatcheries | |
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Carson National Fish Hatchery Fish Species: Spring Chinook Salmon The Carson National Fish Hatchery lies in a heavily forested valley within the Gifford Pinchot National Forest at the confluence of Tyee Creek and Wind River. The hatchery, built by the Civilian Conservation Corps, began rearing salmon and trout in 1937. During the 1980s, the hatchery began rearing spring Chinook salmon exclusively. Because of the loss and degradation of spawning habitat and the impact of dams on migration, the spring Chinook was in rapid decline. Since 1960, hatchery production has helped spring Chinook populations recover in the lower Columbia River. Today Carson releases over 1 million smolts (young salmon) annually. Call the hatchery at (509) 427-5905 for exact spawning dates and times. The hatchery is an excellent stopping point for visitors traveling between the Columbia River Gorge and Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument. Visitors are welcome from 7:30 am until 4:00 pm daily. Call in advance for information about group tours, lectures on fish culture, and dates of hatchery activities. |
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Klickitat Hatchery Hydrounit Basin: Klickitat Fish Species: Spring Chinook, URB Fall Chinook, and Coho (Type N) Klickitat Hatchery was authorized and constructed under the Mitchell Act and began operation as part of the Columbia River Fisheries Development Program. The purpose of the hatchery is to produce adult fall chinook, Type-N coho, and spring chinook that will contribute to NE Pacific and Columbia River Basin commercial and sport fisheries. |
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Little White Salmon National Fish Hatchery Complex Hydrounit Basin: Middle Columbia - Hood Fish Species: Coho, Spring Chinook, and Upriver Bright Fall Chinook Salmon * River KM were taken from PTAGIS database, Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission. Little White Salmon/Willard National Fish Hatchery Complex has visitor facilities including a viewing window below water level where visitors can see adult salmon in the spring and fall. Spring chinook salmon return up the Little White Salmon River in May through August with spawning taking place in mid-July through mid-August. The Little White Salmon National Fish Hatchery was a pioneer in the fledgling science of salmon propagation when it began rearing salmon in 1896. During the past 100 years, the facilities and the propagation methods have changed dramatically and research is on-going. Today, more than 9.4 million young salmon are released into the river or transferred to other sites for release each year. The Little White Salmon River provides the cold, clean source of river water in which salmon are incubated and raised for 6 to 18 months. The Little White Salmon/Willard National Fish Hatchery Complex is funded almost entirely by the National Marine Fisheries Service through authority of the Mitchell Act. Additional funds are received from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (operations and cyclical maintenance), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (off-site feed for fish reared for John Day Mitigation Program), and from the Bonneville Power Administration (operational costs for rearing fish as part of the Umatilla Basin Fisheries Program.) Best time to visit: The hatchery is open daily from 7:30 am to 4:00 pm. Adult spring chinook salmon return in May and June, Up-river fall chinook and coho salmon return in late-September through early November. Spawning occurs in mid-July through mid-August and late October through mid-November. |
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Hydrounit Basin: Lower Columbia - Sandy Fish Species: Winter Steelhead, Summer Steelhead, and Sea-run Cutthroat * River KM were taken from PTAGIS database, Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission. The hatchery is located the North Fork Washougal River about 0.5 mile above the Washougal River. The Washougal River is a north bank tributary of the lower Columbia River, just downstream of Washougal, Washington. Skamania Hatchery was authorized under the Mitchell Act and began operating in 1956 as part of the Columbia River Fisheries Development Program. The goal of the hatchery is to produce winter steelhead, summer steelhead, and sea-run cutthroat for harvest by sport anglers. |
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Fish Species: Tule Fall Chinook Salmon * River KM were taken from PTAGIS database, Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission. Visitors can see adult Tule fall chinook salmon returning to the hatchery from late August through mid-September and spawning of adult salmon beginning mid-September until mid-October. Young smolts are released from the hatchery in March, April and May. Established in 1901, Spring Creek hatchery was one of several egg collection stations for the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries Clackamas hatchery. As the human population of the Columbia Gorge increased, heavy fishing pressure and destruction of habitat resulted in the U.S. government establishing a fish hatchery at this site. The original hatchery was flooded when the Bonneville Dam was completed in 1938. After several modifications, the hatchery was redesigned and rebuilt by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1972. Expansion was undertaken to partially compensate for the loss of fall chinook spawning grounds due to dam construction along the Columbia River. The hatchery is funded by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Mitchell Act, which is administered by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). Today the hatchery raises more than 15 million tule fall chinook salmon annually. Lower Columbia Fish Health Center The Lower Columbia River Fish Health Center originated in 1953 as the first of the federal fish health centers in the northwestern states. Since that time, the staff of one hatchery biologist has expanded to include an administrative assistant and five fish health specialists with expertise in pathology, bacteriology, virology, epidemiology, toxicology, histology, and physiology. The Center provides services to seven lower Columbia River federal fish hatcheries, three tribes, and as requested, to state and private facilities. The primary purposes of the Center are to inspect hatchery fish for pathogens, diagnose disease, recommend remedial treatments to maintain good health management and to monitor the health of wild fish. The Center is primarily funded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service, with some additional money provided by the National Wild Fish Health Survey, the U.S. Corps of Engineers, Bonneville Power Administration, and the Yakama Indian Nation. |
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Willard National Fish Hatchery Hydrounit Basin: Middle Columbia - Hood Fish Species: Coho salmon When to visit: Visitors are welcome from 7:30 am to 4:00 pm daily. The Willard National Fish Hatchery is part of the Little White Salmon/Willard National Fish Hatchery complex. The hatchery is located on the Little White Salmon River approximately 4 miles upstream from the Little White Salmon NFH. It was built in 1952 and has been used primarily for raising coho salmon since the mid-1960s. Coho salmon are adapted to the cold water of the Little White Salmon River. Willard NFH is the only Federal hatchery above Bonneville Dam that produces coho salmon. The goal of the hatchery is to provide fish to the commercial, sport, and tribal fisheries. Coho eggs, taken in October and November from adult salmon returning to the Little White Salmon hatchery downriver, are transported to Willard at the eyed-up stage. They continue their incubation, are moved into indoor tanks and then to outdoor raceways. The young fish are released into the Little White Salmon River in the spring. The Little White Salmon/Willard National Fish Hatchery Complex is funded almost entirely by the National Marine Fisheries Service through the authority of the Mitchell Act. Additional funds are received from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (operations and cyclical maintenance), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (off-site feed for fish reared for the John Day Mitigation Program), and from the Bonneville Power Administration (operational costs for rearing fish as part of the Umatilla Basin Fisheries Program). |
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Columbia River Dams and Fish Hatcheries:
Congress ignored that the Bonneville Dam would alter most of the river's ecological processes by changing the flow of water, sediment, nutrients, and biota. These changes dramatically reduced the native salmon population, eventually plunging several salmon species onto Endangered Species List. In addition, the dams forever altered or destroyed ancient Indian fishing grounds, petroglyphs, and other significant aspects of Native American cultural life. The loss of salmon due to the construction of the dams has been a heavy blow, not only to the Native American tribes of the Columbia River Basin, but to the entire ecosystem of this area. The salmon in the Columbia River need clear flowing water, clean gravel, and a suitable source of food for survival. The construction of the dams across the Columbia River have significantly reduced these resources for salmon. Before any dam development took place on the Columbia River, 260,000 mi. was accessible to salmon. Today only 73,000 mi. of the original area is accessible to salmon (National Research Council, 1996). The smolts (young river-spawned salmon) go out to sea for a year to only return to their natal stream (they imprint, using olfactory cues, on the stream when born). By limiting the area of passage, salmon ladders permit only a few salmon to make it to their natal stream. When adults are not able to spawn, the overall number of salmon in the system the following year is reduced. The labyrinth of large dams operated by the US Army Corps of Engineers on the Columbia River that wild salmon have to navigate include the Bonneville Dam, The Dalles Dam, the John Day Dam, McNary Dam, and Grand Coulee Dam. In an attempt to assist fish migration, the Columbia River dams have constructed Fish Ladders, a water "stairway" that allow salmon to bypass the crush of the giant hydroelectric turbines. Fish Ladders are only partially effective at resolving the issue of high salmon mortality rates. Spawning grounds are also lost with increasing river depth, increasing water temperature and loss of sediment due to the single-thread channel effect. As the beaches and sandbars downstream diminish, so do the salmon. The coarse glacial outwash of sediments occurs naturally with the river's seasonal peak flows and erosion. This erosion does not take place when the flood plain disappears and single-thread channels emerge. Thus the reduced flow not only reduces spawning grounds, but also increases predation by animals who routinely feed on salmon as they collect in pools below the dams as they attempt to muster the strength to battle their way up the fish ladders. Fish Hatcheries have also been cited as a factor in the reduction of the native salmon population. The use of hatcheries, needed when a dam is constructed, has become a basis in the government's management of salmon, but may actually add to the problem. Hatchery fish that are introduced are not genetically compatible or as resilient as fish already in the stream. The sheer numbers of hatchery fish released has been known to exceed the stream capacity (National Research Council, 1996), edging out native fish populations who are already struggling for survival. Diseases can spread rapidly among hatchery fish, and once released to the native rivers and streams, these diseases can infect the native wild fish, further reducing their numbers. It is a delicate balancing act to protect the native salmon species so they can thrive even while co-habitating with humans. It's not likely the dams will be removed due to a great demand for the clean hydro-electric power they produce, and as long as these massive concrete structures create barriers across the Columbia River, we will need Fish Hatcheries. Given the enormous change to their native habitat caused by the construction of the Columbia River dams along with the lack of any conservation programs earlier in the 20th century, it is sometimes amazing that any salmon are still surviving. |
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Gifford Pinchot National Forest Pacific Northwest Fisheries Program Related Information and Links
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Unless otherwise credited, all photos by Susan Buce, © 2003 A2ZGorge.Info
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Life in Columbia River Rivers and Streams
Bonneville Dam Fish Hatchery
The Bonneville Dam on the Columbia River was a New Deal project authorized by congress in 1930. The project was intended to "tame the Columbia." The project was seen as a way to provide badly needed jobs during a national economic depression, to facilitate river traffic through some of the most dangerous rapids on the Columbia, and to establish the hydroelectric facilities that would eventually provide electrical power to most of the Western US.
