From Native Fish Society March 2022
North Umpqua Summertime Steelhead returns have actually decreased substantially over the previous 5 years. In 2021, a record low run of just 450 wild Summertime Steelhead went back to the North Umpqua basin.
This traditionally low return, integrated with hatchery fish on the generating premises and current ecological conditions impacting Summertime Steelhead in the basin (wildfires, dry spell, low circulations, high stream temperature levels, ocean conditions), triggered ODFW personnel to reassess the practicality of the population and elements that might be restricting their abundance.
And now, ODFW wishes to know what the general public believes need to be done to assist bring back wild steelhead. The details gathered in this study will be shown decision-makers prior to they assemble in April to think about the future of North Umpqua wild steelhead management. Please follow the link to this survey to give your feedback on the future of North Umpqua Wild Summer Steelhead. Remember the following:
— We want to see a time out in the summertime steelhead hatchery program up until wild abundance is brought back.
— Several elements are adding to the decrease of these fish, however we require to concentrate on those elements we can manage, hatcheries and harvest.
— A bulk of the folks fishing for North Umpqua Summertime Steelhead would rather fish for and bring back wild summertime steelhead.
North Umpqua Summertime Steelhead are among just 3 populations of wild Summertime Steelhead staying on the Oregon coast. If we do not restore this run now, we might extremely well have absolutely nothing left. Let’s share our voices to bring back these fish to abundance for future generations of Oregonians and anglers following in our steps.
