Wolf impact on big game herds discussed

Recently representatives from Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, along with Dave Ware, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, discussed the impacts wolves have had on deer, elk and other big game animals in Idaho and Montana.

The discussion was filmed and is available online at www.wdfw.wa.gov/july182013.html

I haven't seen the entire presentation yet, as it is almost three hours long. However the question about what wolves will do to our big game herds is at the forefront for all big game hunters. The video is worth watching.

Salmon Creek opens to fishing

Fishing will open on Salmon Creek, from the Okanogan Irrigation District Diversion, located 4.5 miles upstream of the mouth, to Conconully Reservoir Dam, from July 27 through Oct. 31.

Salmon Creek has been designated as a recovery stream for steelhead listed for protection under the federal Endangered Species Act. Sufficient water has been procured for Salmon Creek to attract spawning steelhead adults. However, non-native species such as smallmouth bass and eastern brook trout, along with residual juvenile hatchery steelhead, have increased competition and predation and made recovery efforts more difficult.

Therefore, smallmouth bass and eastern brook trout, adipose-clipped rainbow trout are targeted.

The daily limit for all three species is 10 and there is no minimum size. For rainbow trout, only fish with a clipped adipose fin and a healed scar at the location of the clipped fin can be retained.

Two more lake treatment

meetings planned

State fishery managers will host public meetings in July to discuss proposals to treat three lakes in eastern Washington with rotenone, a naturally occurring pesticide commonly used to remove undesirable fish species from lakes and streams.

Fish and Wildlife is proposing to treat Badger Lake in Spokane County, Spectacle Lake in Okanogan County, and the Hampton and Pillar-Widgeon Lake chains in Grant County this fall to remove species ranging from bass and bullhead to stunted panfish.

The Pillar-Widgeon chain is made up of 10 waters, including: Pillar, Snipe, Cattail, Gadwall, Poacher, Lemna, Shoveler, Sago, Hourglass and the Widgeons. The Hampton Chain is made up of Upper and Lower Hampton, Hampton Slough, Hen, Dabbler, Marie and three small, unnamed ponds.

Public meetings to discuss the lake treatments proposed by WDFW are scheduled from 7 to 9 p.m. on the following dates at the following locations: July 29 - Olympia, at the Natural Resource Building, 1111 Washington St., Room 175; July 30 - Tonasket, at the City Hall Council Chamber, 209 S. Whitcomb; July 31 - Cheney, at the Cheney Library, 610 1st St.

In addition to input received at the public meetings, WDFW will consider written comments received through Aug. 23. Comments should be addressed to Bruce Bolding, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, 600 Capitol Way N., Olympia, WA 98501-1091.

Final consideration of the proposals will be made by the WDFW director in early September.

Rotenone is an organic substance derived from the roots of tropical plants, which the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has approved for use as a fish pesticide and as an insecticide in the agriculture industry. It has been used by WDFW in lake and stream rehabilitations for more than 70 years, and is commonly used by other fish and wildlife management agencies nationwide.