Download the complete Joint Staff Report Concerning the 2004 Fall In-river Commercial Harvest of Columbia River Fall Chinook Salmon, Summer Steelhead, Coho Salmon, Chum Salmon, and Sturgeon PDF Format [2.9MB] The Columbia River Compact The Columbia River Compact is charged by congressional and statutory authority to adopt seasons and rules for Columbia River commercial fisheries. In recent years, the Compact has consisted of the Oregon and Washington agency directors, or their delegates, acting on behalf of the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission (OFWC) and the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission (WFWC). In addition, the Columbia River treaty tribes have authority to regulate treaty Indian fisheries. When addressing commercial seasons for salmon, steelhead, and sturgeon, the Compact must consider the effect of the commercial fishery on escapement, treaty rights, and sport fisheries, as well as the impact on species listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Although the Compact has no authority to adopt sport fishing seasons or rules, it is an inherent responsibility of the Compact to address the allocation of limited resources among users. This responsibility has become increasingly demanding in recent years. The Compact can be expected to be more conservative than in the past when considering fisheries that will impact listed salmon and steelhead.

Joint Staff Report Concerning the 2004 Fall In-river Commercial Harvest of Columbia River Fall Chinook Salmon, Summer Steelhead, Coho Salmon, Chum Salmon, and Sturgeon Joint Columbia River Management Staff Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife July 21, 2004 Introduction This report describes fall fisheries in the mainstem Columbia River and includes summaries of 2003 fall fisheries, 2004 management guidelines, expected 2004 fall fish runs, and the outlook for 2004 fall fisheries. It is part of an annual series of reports produced by the Joint Columbia River Management Staff of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) prior to each major Columbia River Compact hearing. Information concerning early and late fall mainstem management periods and fall Select Area fisheries are included in this report. The first Compact hearing of the 2004 fall management period will begin at 10 AM, Thursday July 29 at the Cowlitz County Public Utility District office located at 961 12th Avenue, Longview, Washington. The purpose of this hearing is to consider non-Indian commercial fishing options for the mainstem Columbia River. Following the hearing, the states will consider Select Area fall salmon seasons in Big Creek, Youngs Bay, Tongue Point, Blind Slough, Deep River, and Steamboat Slough. Additionally, a Compact hearing has been scheduled for 10 AM Friday August 20 at the Columbia River Intertribal Fisheries Enforcement Office located at 4270 Westcliff Drive, Hood River, Oregon. The purpose of this hearing is to review salmon and steelhead stock status and to consider non-Indian commercial fisheries and/or treaty Indian commercial fisheries in the mainstem Columbia River. Further Compact hearings will be scheduled throughout the fall management period as needed to evaluate salmon and steelhead stock status and adopt or modify treaty Indian and non-Indian commercial seasons as appropriate. Salmon and summer steelhead returns are forecast prior to the fall season and are updated in-season based on the most current ocean and in?river fishery information plus Columbia River dam counts (Table 1). White sturgeon abundance in the lower Columbia River is updated annually. The data in this report are a consensus of the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) which completed its review prior to printing. The TAC is comprised of biologists from state and federal fish management agencies and the Columbia River treaty Indian tribes, and functions by agreement of the parties under U. S. v. Oregon.

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