This showed up in my e-mail in response to questions on the Wynoochee. I have to admit Chad has mastered agency speak. What he did not mention was the shortage of Chinook is not due to anything local users harvest but the 30% to 50% of our Chinook are taken by Alaska and BC. To make it clear WDFW has not objected but act more like lap dogs than managers. The Nooch mitigation is a very long story but keeping it short this response is wayyyyyy past glossing over the true facts.


Good to hear from you and hope that you are well. Thanks for the question regarding coho fisheries in the Wynoochee River above White Bridge. The answer to that question does not center on any constraint due to coho availability. Rather the constraint for fisheries in this area is twofold; impacts to natural origin fall Chinook and lack of the ability to expand current fisheries without additional information that returns are greater than forecasted coupled with the resources for monitoring those expanded fisheries. While fall Chinook in the Wynoochee River spawn throughout the system stock assessment data suggest a high proportion of fish spawn above White Bridge, quite simply this area is our most productive for Chinook spawning in the Wynoochee River. As you are well aware, lack of available fall Chinook has long been a constraint relative to fisheries in the entirety of the Chehalis Basin. Fisheries in the watershed are timed and placed so as to minimize impacts to fall Chinook and target available coho for harvest.

In consideration of in-season action for this year to expand opportunity, the Department would need information to suggest that actual returns were exceeding preseason forecasted terminal run size estimates for Chinook and Coho in the watershed in order to take such an action. Fisheries were planned preseason and agreed to with our Co-Managers so as to ensure attainment of management objectives outlined in the Grays Harbor Salmon Management Policy relative to natural Chinook and Coho stocks in the watershed and in the signed fall fishery harvest management agreement with the Quinault Indian Nation. Outside of the constraint due to lack of our ability to update the run size in season, the Agency currently lacks the resources necessary to monitor any expansion of salmon fisheries outside of the recent year footprint. With that said, I think this certainly could be a topic of discussion during our upcoming NOF planning process for consideration in future years.

Lastly, I certainly understand your frustration with the fulfillment of the Wynoochee Mitigation Plan and recognize the length of time this issue has been at the forefront of fishery management conversation in the watershed. I know it won’t be much consolation after the length of time, but we continue to work with QIN on finalizing an agreement to utilize the funds available. I hope to have more information relative to that topic soon. Please feel free to reach out if you require more information or have questions on other topics.

Thanks,

Chad Herring
Region 6 Fish Program Manager
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
Cell #:(360)470-3410
Chad.Herring@dfw.wa.gov