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Fish Count Not Hurt by Sea Lion Devices by Associated Press The Register-Guard, April 28, 2006

PORTLAND - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said the devices used to keep sea lions out of the fish ladder at Bonneville Dam do not appear to be hurting the fish count.

Engineers removed two of the 12 devices earlier this week to test the impact of fish traffic. After monitoring fish for two days and finding no significant difference, the corps is putting the devices back.

The devices are intended to keep hungry sea lions out of the fishways while allowing for free passage of salmon. But some area fishery agencies were concerned that the devices, known as SLEDs, might be contributing to the low number of salmon passing upriver to spawn.

Fish traffic has been only a fraction of what it has been in past years at this point in the season. But officials say the low numbers are partly because of a migration that seems to be starting late.