The lure of the Columbia River brought out walkers, runners, roller bladers and fishermen on Sunday, as hundreds reveled in an afternoon free of rain.
And the river ran fast as anglers competed for spring chinook on the next to the last day of the season. The mighty Columbia was rushing at nearly 390 cubic feet per second, about the rate expected in May and June when snow is melting.
Fish and Wildlife Officer Tom Moats was on the job reminding fishermen that a new fishing license is needed after the last one expired March 31. He was at the jetty at Tidewater Cove, just downstream from Vancouver’s Wintler Park.
Lucien Miller, 17, a junior at Heritage High School, was at the jetty and had 12-pound-test line on his Shakespeare fishing rod. He said fishing was lousy because “there’s a really big sea lion around here.” Sure enough, the critter bobbed in the cove, apparently looking for dinner.
Miller was fishing with his godfather, Dennis Dodge of Vancouver. “I figured I’d get him out of the house,” Dodge said of fishing with Miller. Asked to describe the fishing, Dodge offered, “Terrible.”
Oregon and Washington officials are set to meet Wednesday to review the catch and determine whether to reopen the spring chinook season in the lower Columbia River.
The Waterfront Renaissance Trail along the Columbia was popular, and Dechen Tshering, 28, and Anthony Nguyen, 29, both of Vancouver, were having a blast roller blading.
Nguyen was toting Li’l Dude, the couple’s 4-year-old Pekingese. The dog was dressed in a sweatshirt that announced: FBI.
“It’s looking promising,” Tshering said of April’s weather so far.
“The weather here in the summer is awesome,” Nguyen added.
Larry Shaw was walking the trail with Lynn Dulong. Shaw grew up in Vancouver, lived in Portland for 25 years, and came back last September.
He said the trail “is one of Vancouver’s amenities,” adding two of his other favorites are Officers Row and the new Vancouver Community Library, which will open in July.
River stats
The Columbia looks high because it is, said Steve King, a hydrologist with the National Weather Service in Portland.
He said warm temperatures Friday, particularly in Eastern Washington, followed by rain caused some snow to melt and the river to swell.
The gauge on the Interstate 5 Bridge showed a measurement of 13 feet (not to be confused with the depth of the river), while 15 feet is considered full bank and 16 feet is flood stage. King said the forecast calls for the river to stay around 13 feet at that measuring point with no chance of flooding.
Despite the high water, thousands of boats were on the river.
More rain?
Sorry, it appears rain will return this afternoon, said Kevin Donofrio, a meteorologist with the NWS.
“There’s a good little slug of rain (coming today), maybe a half-inch, maybe a little more in spots,” he said. “I don’t think many people want to hear that.”
He said the forecast shows continued cool and showery conditions through Thursday.
Any good news?
“Looks to be a dry weekend,” Donofrio said.
Dave Kern: dave.kern@columbian.com or 360-735-4534.
