Sockeye salmon in the Columbia Basin have declined substantially from historic levels. Historic runs were as large as 3 million fish. Most of the original production of sockeye occurred in nursery lakes located in the uppermost reaches of the Columbia and Snake River basins. Upstream passage was blocked by the construction of several key dams including: Grand Coulee Dam (completed 1941) in the upper Columbia system; and by Swan Falls (1901), Sunbeam (1913-1934), Black Canyon (1914), and Brownlee (1958) dams in the Snake system. Landlocked sockeye salmon, commonly called kokanee, are still produced in many of the areas that formerly contained anadromous runs. Currently, anadromous populations of sockeye originate almost exclusively from natural production in the Wenatchee and Okanogan basins. The anadromous run of sockeye in the Snake River has been reduced to a remnant run in Redfish Lake. Fewer than 50 of these sockeye have been counted annually at Lower Granite Dam since 1984, with the exception of 2008 where the fish count was 909 sockeye. In December 1991, NMFS listed Snake River sockeye as endangered under the ESA.
Sockeye salmon in the Columbia River return as age-3, age-4, and age-5 fish with peak passage over Bonneville Dam around July 1. Spawning occurs in September and October. Juveniles normally rear in a freshwater nursery lake for at least one full year before migrating to the ocean. Columbia River sockeye are the southernmost sockeye run in North America.
Non-Indian and treaty Indian commercial fisheries for sockeye occur when the escapement goal of 75,000 at Bonneville Dam has been achieved and sufficient surplus is available for fisheries. Commercial harvest of sockeye has not occurred since 1988 except for small fisheries in 2000 and 2004. Last year (2008) a season total of 213,607 sockeye were counted at Bonneville Dam, and a commercial harvest did occur.
The 2009 preseason forecast for sockeye in the Columbia River is for a return of 184,400 fish. At this time, no commercial sockeye fishery is scheduled. An in-season run size update will be made in mid-to-late June, based on Bonneville Dam counts. Daily and cumulative counts of sockeye at the Columbia River dams are available at www.nwp.usace.army.mil/op/fishdata/home.asp.
In 2009, recreational salmon fishing in the main-stem Columbia River is expected to be open from Rocky Point to the HWY 395 Bridge at Pasco. Anglers are reminded to refer to the WDFW Sport Fishing Rules Pamphlet regarding sockeye retention, and to check emergency regulations issued in-season for specific fishery openings and closures.
Lake Wenatchee Sockeye
Recreational fishing opportunity for sockeye in Lake Wenatchee is dependent on having harvestable runs. Recreational fisheries for sockeye occurred in Lake Wenatchee during the 1980s and early 1990s, and most recently during the 2001, 2004, and 2008 seasons. The fishery would typically open in early August and remain open until the harvestable surplus is taken.
The escapement goal at Priest Rapids Dam is 65,000 sockeye. Turn-off into Lake Wenatchee is measured by subtracting the Rocky Reach Dam count from the Rock Island Dam count. On average 50% of the sockeye run has crossed Rock Island Dam by about July 13 and Rocky Reach Dam by July 17. Although no escapement goal is formally established for the Wenatchee system, the past objectives were to have 23,000 fish reach the spawning grounds after fisheries.
Based on harvest estimates of prior years, it is expected that a fishery in Lake Wenatchee would harvest about 16% of the Wenatchee River run. Therefore, a return of about 27,000 sockeye in the Wenatchee component would be required before opening a sport fishery. The preseason forecast is for 18,380 Wenatchee River origin fish to return to the Columbia River in 2009.
