Salmon Groups Spur Oregon Delegation to Question Corps Mitigation Commitment

At the request of NSIA and supported by the CCA, the NW Steelheaders, and the McKenzie River Guides Association , Oregon’s U. S. Representative Kurt Schrader, and the entire Oregon congressional delegation, sent a strongly worded set of questions to Colonel Aaron Dorf, Commander of the Portland District, U. S. Army Corp of Engineers. The letter (see below) seeks clarification on the Corps’ continuing commitment to the operation of five Willamette system salmon hatcheries.

The Corps is responsible for funding the Willamette dams to mitigate the Willamette Valley Project impacts on salmon, steelhead and trout populations in the system. In recent years, the hatcheries have not been operated at capacity, a decision which plays a contributing role in the decline of several salmon and steelhead populations. In February, the Corps announced they would not renew their hatchery operations agreements with ODFW and instead would solicit and award contracts for their operation. This action calls into question their commitment to their mitigation responsibility.

NSIA has worked hard for many years to get full operations funding restored to the Willamette hatcheries. The hatchery populations supplement declining wild stocks, allowing the continuation of sportfishing in the Willamette system. Willamette fisheries support over 100,000 fishing trips per year, playing an important role in the economy of the region.

NSIA businesses appreciate Rep. Schrader and the Oregon delegation’s attention to this critical funding issue. We are hopeful that this letter will inspire the Corps will do the right thing by fulfilling their mitigation responsibility and ensuring the continued full production of salmon stocks in the Willamette. Please be sure to thank Oregon’s Senators and Representatives for their efforts on behalf of the salmon and the businesses dependent on them.