Oregon man works to revive hatchery

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. — While the idea of reintroducing salmon into the upper portion of the Klamath watershed has been kicked around often, one man is primed to make it a reality,

Darryl Goodson is working to restore the fully functioning salmon hatchery at his Fort Klamath ranch, The Herald and News reports. The ranch straddles Fort Creek, a spring-fed tributary of the Wood River.

“I bought the property primarily because I enjoy fishing, and it’s a beautiful piece of property. I really didn’t have any thoughts that it might make sense to turn it back on as a hatchery,” Goodson said. “But it wasn’t long after we bought the property three years ago that we started hearing about the reintroduction of salmon as part of the removal of the four dams on the Klamath River.”

The hatchery hasn’t been in operation for more than two decades, but Goodson said it only needs an assessment to bring it up to code and permits to begin running again. If state biologists choose to replenish the Klamath basin with hatchery fish, he will be ready.

Spawning salmon stopped entering the upper Klamath River and upper Basin watershed in 1918 when a dam was installed on the mainstream Klamath River. Three more dams were later installed downstream.

Klamath Tribes fish biologist Larry Dunsmoor said he is not fond of fish hatcheries, but it is possible the Fort Creek hatchery could be used as conservation. He said the best way to reintroduce chinook salmon to the Basin will be to hatch the fish and place them in streams.

Goodson said he believes somebody is going to produce the salmon that are reintroduced in the Klamath River at some point.

“At some point there’s going to be a demand to raise salmon and reintroduce them into the streams, along the Klamath and its tributaries,” Goodson said. “From a taxpayer standpoint, it makes sense to use what we have.”

used as conservation.