LA GRANDE, Ore. (AP) — The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife will release about 200 spring Chinook salmon into the Powder River after getting the signoff from fisheries downstream.
The fish and wildlife department says high flows at the Hells Canyon Dam stalled the salmon release this year. The salmon are scheduled to be released below the Mason Dam southwest of Baker City on July 7.
The process begins when smolt-stage salmon are released at the Hells Canyon Dam to provide fish to fisheries on the Snake River.
When the number of returning salmon is deemed sufficient by fishery managers downstream, some of the adults are trapped at the Hells Canyon Dam and released into tributaries like the Powder River for sport fishing.
The bag limit for spring Chinook is two per day.
