Tribal salmon sales under way at three Columbia Gorge locations
NORTH BONNEVILLE — Over-the-bank sales of salmon by tribal fishermen are open at three locations in the Columbia River Gorge.
The three spots include the Fort Rains area, one mile east of Bonneville Dam; Marine Park in Cascade Locks, and Lone Pine in The Dalles.
Fish normally are sold from 10 a.m. to dusk, the price is negotiated at the point of sale and most sales are cash only.
The public is urged to call the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission salmon marketing program at 888-289-1855 before heading up the Columbia to find where the day’s catch is being sold.
The four treaty tribes are expected to harvest about 200,000 chinook, coho and steelhead. Peak abundance will be between Labor Day and mid-September, with sales continuing until October.
Fire restrictions eased on wildlife lands west of the Cascades
OLYMPIA — Fire restrictions have been eased on Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife lands west of the Cascade Mountains.
Fires are allowed on agency lands in Western Washington, but remain prohibited east of the mountains.
Cooler, wetter weather has lessened the risk of fire in Western Washington. The state Department of Natural Resources has adopted similar guidelines.
Sandy River delta dam being removed to restore old channel
TROUTDALE, Ore. — Work is under way to remove an 8-foot-high dam across the east channel in the Sandy River delta.
Oregon redirected the main portion of the Sandy, known as the east channel, in an attempt to improve fish runs in the 1930s. A 750-foot dam was built to direct water flow to the west channel.
The east channel has filled in to become a slough. Year-round access to the east channel is expected to benefit young steelhead and salmon spawned in the Sandy and migrating to the Columbia.
The restoration project is to be completed by Nov. 30.
Columbia Springs schedules open house on Sept. 10
An open house and 75th anniversary celebration of Vancouver Hatchery will begin at 4 p.m. Sept. 10 at Columbia Springs, 12208 S.E. Evergreen Highway.
Columbia Springs is a nonprofit environmental education organization on a portion of the hatchery complex.
Guy Norman, regional director of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, and local historian Pat Jollota will be the featured speakers.
The hatchery, funded by Clark Public Utilities, produces trout for stocking in Southwest Washington lakes.
Tours of the hatchery will be offered and historic photos will be on display.
