This report documents the 2008 Cowlitz River Evaluation activities completed by
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and funded by Tacoma Power. The report
documents the activities in the Tilton Basin as well as the activities in the lower Cowlitz
River (below the Barrier Dam).
Anadromous Fish Program
Cowlitz River Basin reintroduction strategy for salmonids into the Tilton and upper Cowlitz
River basins includes the transportation and release of adult salmonids from the lower river
around the dams to various upper basin locations. In 2008, 4,612 adult fall Chinook arrived at
the separator and 1,845 (adults) were transported and released in the Tilton Basin. In 2008/2009,
approximately 85,000 adult coho salmon arrived at the separator. A total of 2,708 coho salmon
were transported and released into the Tilton Basin. The remainder of the coho that arrived at
the separator were transported to the upper basin, sent to the food bank/buyer, or used for
hatchery broodstock. Other species transported and released into the Tilton Basin include: 28
winter steelhead, and 157 cutthroat trout. Numbers of fish transported to the upper Cowlitz and
Cispsus Rivers will not be included in this report but can be found in the Cowlitz Falls
Anadromous Fish Reintroduction Project Report by J. Serl.
Recovery actions for the Tilton River basin include coded wire tagging of wild juvenile Tilton
River basin stocks at the Mayfield Dam migrant trap and the collection and upstream transport of
adult wire tagged wild fish collected at Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery separator.
