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More than 140 Sockeye Arrive in Stanley Basin by Associated Press Local News 8, August 7, 2009

BOISE, Idaho - State Department of Fish and Game officials say 142 sockeye salmon have returned to central Idaho and are optimistic robust fish counts downstream could mean the 2009 migration will exceed levels of a year ago.

Last year, 650 sockeye returned to the Sawtooth Valley, more than two-thirds of the 907 sockeye recorded at Lower Granite Dam.

That's the final dam on their 900-mile journey that started in the Pacific Ocean and required the passage of 8 Columbia and Snake River dams.

As of Thursday, 1,191 sockeye that turn brilliant red come spawning time in October had been counted at Lower Granite.

Environmental groups point out this year's numbers - while more than the three fish that returned to Redfish Lake in 2006 - still fall well short of the 2,000 naturally spawning fish targeted in federal fish recovery plan.

Fish returning to Stanley likely left Redfish Lake in 2007 for the ocean.