For those who follow the Willapa issues please read the rack reports below. Whatever ones views are on the Willapa policy some things are very clear for the future. With Willapa prime WDFW reduced by 90% Chinook production at Forks Cr. hatchery effectively ending the best Chinook hatchery program on the coast and totally destroyed recreational fisheries in the Willapa estuary.

In the southern Willapa hatcheries production was expanded twice with Naselle eggtake goal now at 5 million. Thing is it is doubtful that the Naselle eggtake goal will ever be consistently met as the hatchery cannot get the adults back due to environmental conditions. So condensed version, both the Commercial and Recreational South Willapa Bay fisheries are now headed into the dust bin also.

This is a complex issue but simply put the Willapa hatcheries need to do a reboot. Forks Cr. needs to be the hatchery producing the 5 million Chinook smolt. The Nemah needs to maintain a solid production of Chinook with all that can be transferred to Forks Cr. to help jump start Forks Cr then return to its current production level in 4 years. Naselle Chinook production should be reduced to meet the environmental conditions ( around 800,000 ) and any eggtake above those needs transferred to Forks Cr, again to jump start the Chinook program. Why WDFW chose to add 2,500,000 smolt for Orca's to the Naselle Chinook production when they had little or no chance of actually producing them is a mystery. Hopefully they are not using the bookkeeping switch to use Orca monies to pay for existing production.

The final piece of the puzzle is that the WDFW Director and Commission need come to terms and fix this mess. This harvest fight between Rec & Commercial that drove the decision making processes that created the total destruction of the Willapa fisheries needs to be solved once and for all.





Hatchery Rack Returns:
See attached file: 2019 WB Hatchery Chinook Broodstock Summary 10.16.19.xlsx

Naselle Hatchery:
There is a new Chinook program release goal for the Naselle Hatchery starting this year of 5,000,000. Last year’s program release goal was 2,500,000 Chinook. This additional production is directed at increasing prey availability for Southern Resident Killer Whales. To-date, we have spawned 557 female Chinook. To make the new program goal, we still need an additional 1,110 female Chinook. Currently, we have an estimated 200 adult Chinook on-hand in the pond. These fish are a mix of males and females.

Nemah Hatchery:
The Chinook program release goal for the Nemah Hatchery is 3,300,000. To-date, we have spawned 357 female Chinook. To make program goal we still need an additional 743 female Chinook. Currently, we have an estimated 130 adult Chinook on-hand in the pond. These fish are a mix of males and females.

Forks Creek Hatchery:
There is a new Chinook program release goal for Forks Creek Hatchery starting this year of 400,000. Last year’s program release goal was 350,000 Chinook. This additional production is directed at increasing prey availability for Southern Resident Killer Whales. To-date, we have spawned 502 female Chinook. That is enough females to make the program release goal. Currently, we have an estimated 114 adult Chinook on-hand in the facility. These fish are a mix of males and females.