the film forum library tutorial contact DONATE

First Sockeye Salmon of Year Returns to Redfish Lake Creek by Associated Press Idaho Statesman, July 29, 2015

To help the fish, biologists have trapped and trucked 37 sockeye this month
from Lower Granite Dam in Washington to the Eagle Hatchery.

STANLEY, Idaho -- The first sockeye salmon has completed its 900-mile migration to Redfish Lake Creek near Stanley.

The Idaho Statesman reports that migration has been tough this year, thanks to high temperatures and hot rivers which have killed tens of thousands of salmon in the Columbia River.

To help the fish, Idaho Department of Fish and Game biologists have trapped and trucked 37 sockeye this month from Lower Granite Dam in Washington to the Eagle Hatchery.

Senior research biologist Mike Peterson says in the past 10 years, between 30 and 78 percent of sockeye that crossed the Lower Granite Dam completed the trip to the Sawtooth Basin to spawn. This year Peterson says he hopes they get 30 percent, but it could be less.

Through July 27, 368 sockeye were counted at Lower Granite Dam.

Related Pages:
Why Are Thousands of Migratory Salmon Dying Before They Can Spawn? by Courtney Sherwood, Christian Science Monitor, 7/27/15
Biologists Bring Sockeye into Idaho on Trucks to Get Them Out of Hot Water by Rocky Barker, Idaho Statesman, 7/17/15
Sockeye Salmon Suffer Infections in Warm Columbia River System by Rich Landers, Spokesman-Review, 7/17/15
Half of Columbia River Sockeye Salmon Dying Due to Hot Water by Associated Press, The Oregonian, 7/18/15