Columbia River Fall Chinook and Coho 2003 Preliminary Returns and Outlook for 2004

Lower River Hatchery Stock - LRH

2003 return of near 190,000 is highest since the 1988 return of 310,000
Below average return of jacks in 2003
2004 return should be down from 2003 and 2002 and likely below 100,000

Lower River Wild Stock - LRW

2003 return is greater than 20,000
Average return of jacks in 2003
2004 return should be similar to the 2000 and 2001 returns which averaged about 13,000

Bonneville Pool Hatchery Stock - BPH

2003 return expected to be the largest on record (since 1964) of over 190,000
Solid return of jacks in 2003
2004 return should be strong but less than recent three years (average 159,000)

Upriver Bright Stock - URB

2003 return of 380,000 is second largest on record (since 1964)
Average return of jacks in 2003
2004 return should be near recent 10 year average (190,000)

Mid-Columbia Bright Stock - MCB

2003 return of near 100,000 was second largest on record
2004 return should be similar to recent 5 year average (62,000)

Total Columbia River Fall Chinook

2003 return of near 900,000 is the largest return since 1948
2004 return should be about 500,000 fish

Coho

2003 return about 700,000
Columbia River jack returns are about 2/3rd of the 2002 returns

December 8, 2003
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife