PUD, landowners talk salmon recovery

EPHRATA — During the following months, policy discussions could occur regarding Grant County PUD’s proposed supplementation of endangered spring Chinook salmon in Chelan County.

Grant County PUD is required by a federal license to operate its Columbia River dams to increase the salmon populations in White River and Nason Creek.

Recently, about 50 people, including landowners, met with Grant County PUD staff to discuss the construction of a salmon acclimation facility on the utility’s property near the White River.

The facility would keep salmon in the area longer to become acclimated to the location.

The PUD is currently releasing salmon into net pens in Lake Wenatchee for six weeks, which isn’t enough time to ensure they’ll return, said Gerry O’Keefe, Grant County PUD’s natural resources manager.

At the public meeting in Leavenworth, Chelan County Commissioner Ron Walter spoke to questions concerning if supplementation was the appropriate method for salmon recovery.

Walter pointed out some people on a hatchery review group are also partners and signatories to the Upper Columbia River Salmon Recovery plan.

Walter explained it’s really a policy forum and the group has in place a technical component rather than a citizens’ component.

“We have the ability in our local processes, to do these analyses and discussions, to make those policy decisions,” Walter said.

He asked Grant County PUD staff their willingness to get involved and work through the local process.

O’Keefe, of the PUD, said he didn’t know yet, because he had to talk with Walter more to understand the role of the Upper Columbia River Recovery Board.

O’Keefe said he also has to talk with the tribes and regulatory agencies to see if they’re comfortable with the discussions.

“In terms of policy, I have to defer to those folks,” he added. “In terms of an idea, it’s something I’m definitely willing to explore.”

The PUD is required to develop a hatchery genetic management plan for its federal license. One way for people to connect about policy issues would to submit comments about the plan, O’Keefe said.

A preliminary version of the hatchery genetic management plan will be available online for public review in the near future.

To read and submit comments about the plan, visit the National Marine Fisheries Service Web site at www.nwr.noaa.gov/Salmon-Harvest-Hatcheries/Hatcheries/HGMPs-under-Review.cfm.

O’Keefe explained the PUD is an implementer, not a policy setter.

He told the audience the PUD intends to work with them to shape whatever proposal is developed.

In six months, the PUD submits its proposal to the American Fisheries Society for an independent scientific review.

The review is to make sure anything that is done, “is something that will work and something we can be proud of 30 or 40 years from now,” he explained.

One method for salmon recovery is the use of acclimation ponds.

The original plan was to build a full hatchery near the confluence of the Napeequa River and White River, which included plans for a weir to collect adult salmon, said Russell Langshaw, a Grant County PUD fisheries biologist.

Some members of the public didn’t want the hatchery and plans were changed to instead discuss adding an acclimation facility.

“We feel we had to compromise the quality of the program and the chances of success,” Langshaw said.

People were concerned about development to the flood plain and impacts to the site.

He talked about different types of holding areas for fish, including circular tanks, naturalized ponds, raceways and oxbow ponds. Raceways were opposed by some people at past public meetings, he said.

At a future public meeting, officials will go into more depth about the different types of holding areas, he said.

David Klunger, of Leavenworth, said he’s for anything portable rather than permanent.

No more construction is needed, Klunger said.

Jeff Parsons, of Leavenworth, and preservation chairman of the North Central Washington Audobon Society, asked PUD staff to share supplementation success stories.

Langshaw said an example could be the Wenatchee summer Chinook, which are not listed as endangered species.

O’Keefe said another example could be the Red Lake population of sockeye.

Future meetings are planned in February and April to discuss options and then gather feedback on the preferred option.

More information is also available by visiting www.gcpud.org/resources, e-mailing fishandwildlife@gcpud.org or calling 509-793-1522.