Folks, Friends of the Cowlitz needs your help. I know that you would rather be talking about the fish you are catching, but this is about an organization that has busted their a** to put fish into the Cowlitz river system for the sportsperson. TPU has told WDFW that they will not pay for the rearing (aprox) $45,000 for the 90,000 steelhead that FOC raises each year for release into the Cowlitz river basin. This was a condition of their old license. Well they do not have their NEW license. Proof of this can be seen at Friends of the Cowlitz and then click on Cowlitz Dam Relicensing on the left hand side. You will see that Ferc has issued another Stay, hence no license. Appendix A of the Cowlitz River Hydroelectri Project Settlement Agreement states in Section 8.3: "In addition, pending issuance of a new license and implementation of new terms and conditions thereunder related to the effects of the Project on natural resources, Tacoma shall continue to comply fully with the terms and conditions of its existing license and shall maintain the level of activity undertaken as of the effective date of this agreement,...."The WDFW has told us that we have to come up with the funding for these fish if we still want to rear and relase them or they will destroy them. Under the new license TPU is not responsible for these 90,000 steelhead, under the existing it is. We believe they are still responsible for the funding as they have not been issued their new license. WDFW is under the impression they have the right/responsibility (??) to destroy these fingerlings now. We desperately need your help. We need calls to the Department 360 864 6121 asking them not to destroy these steelhead until we can come up with the funding for them once Tacoma does receive their license. We need FUNDING! There are numerous ways to donate funds to FOC so we can pay the WDFW for the food that these fish need to release. Please help these fish as well as the hundreds of thousands of other steelhead and salmon that Friends of the Cowlitz raises for the sportsman.

Kathy,

Maybe it will help if you can tell us what type the 90,000 steelhead are. Are they summer runs, early winters or are they late winter run stock?

Thanks,
Cowlitzfisherman

Is the taste of the bait worth the sting of the hook?

cf,
Not what I expected to see on your post?What is your take on this situation.I know you have been active in the cowlitz project.

Itlcleo,

I don't quite understand your statement;

"cf, Not what I expected to see on your post? What is your take on this situation.I know you have been active in the cowlitz project."

Itlceo; what did you expect to see on my post? I, like you, have just heard of this issue. It would make sense to first find out what stock of steelhead they are considering dumping before one can make any argument against such an action. I have helped the FOC raise hundreds of thousands of steelhead and salmon when I was on the FOC Board of directors. Now, I spend all my time working the legal issues and leave the fish rearing business to the other FOC members.

I have been working with the CPR-Fish/ FOC attorney all last week concerning our joint rehearing request to FERC concerning Tacoma's new license and the PCHB hearing. I have just found out, that FERC has issued a stay on Tacoma's new license for an undetermined time. This action along may change the outcome of what the WDFW will do with the 90,000 steelhead fry. Hopefully, the FOC will keep us updated on their rearing projects and what is happening concerning these fish.

Some good news to report is that last week over 553 "wild steelhead" were taken up and released into the upper Cowlitz. This by far, is the largest one week return of wild steelhead that we have seen. Its looks like the recovery and reintroduction program will surpass last year's returns. I will let everyone know what the final results are when the run is finished.

Cowlitzfisherman

Is the taste of the bait worth the sting of the hook?

CF,
Thats great news on the return of those fish. What time of year do they smolt?

Jim

JimB,

It looks like May is the month that the majority of the steelhead is smolting from the upper Cowlitz.

Cowlitzfisherman
Is the taste of the bait worth the sting of the hook????

Thanks CF, what happens if we get another big rain and subsequent dumping water over the dam at Scanewa...is the collection facility at Scanewa Dam still able to perform when this occurs or are the fish lost into Riffe??

Thanks for the info...I find this thread potentially very educational.

Jim

JimB
High flows at Cowlitz Falls Dam is BAD NEWS for smolt collecting.

cowlitzfisherman

Is the taste of the bait worth the sting of the hook????

Sorry all for the late response, I have been out of town. These particular fish are summer run steelhead.
As of right now, they are still alive, but we don't know how long until they dump them. There was a verbal order on April 4th or 5th to dump them on the 9th. But.....the hatchery didn't do it waiting for written documentation on this. This is a HUGE amount of fish to remove from our river. I ask that you call Craig Burley at 360 906 6711 to voice your support of these fish.
Thanks,
Kathy Larsen
Friends of the Cowlitz
Board of Directors