Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
On Saturday, volunteers from the Tri-State Steelheaders, and staff from the WDFW used seven pickups to load 933 20-30 pound Chi nook Salmon carcasses from the Lyons Ferry Hatchery into the Tucannon River. The project is part of a Stream Nutrient Enrichment Plan, to enhance the numbers of Spring Chinook and Steelhead. Above: Tri-State Steelheaders volunteers place salmon carcasses into the Tucannon River.
DAYTON – The Tri-State Steelheaders and Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife staff have been playing "Mother Nature" in the Tucannon River.
WDFW fish biologist Michael Gallinat of Dayton said that in recent years too few salmon and steelhead have returned to the Tucannon River to spawn and die, providing the necessary nutrients to maintain a productive food web. So the WDFW has developed a protocol for stream nutrient enrichment.
Improving the food web is a bonus for aquatic bugs and, in turn, for fish, so the fish get a healthy start in life, before making their way to the ocean, Gallinat said.
Gallinat compared this to "fertilizing your garden" to achieve bigger and better crops.
"The bigger the babies, the better they survive," he said about the fish. "The smaller ones don't survive as well."
After receiving a clean bill of health, more than 700, 20-30 pound, Fall Chinook carcasses were delivered to the Tucannon River and placed just downstream from places where fish spawn naturally.
Gallinat said this program has been conducted throughout the state for decades, but sporadically in the Tucannon River.
With a protocol for Stream Nutrient Enrichment in place, the team can perform "Mother Nature's" job every year until the numbers of Spring Chinook and steelhead increase.
Otters, eagles, and other wildlife stand to benefit, as well, Gallinat said.
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