November 16, 2009

Last week, Tacoma Power recovered 4,661 coho adults, 236 summer-run steelhead, 50 winter-run steelhead, 289 jacks, 56 fall Chinook adults, eleven jacks, and 121 sea-run cutthroat trout during six days of operation at the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery separator.

During the week Tacoma Power employees released 370 coho adults, 12 jacks, 47 fall Chinook adults, eleven jacks and eight cutthroat trout into the Tilton River at Gust Backstrom Park in Morton.

Tacoma Power employees also released 847 coho adults, 878 jacks and one early winter-run steelhead adult into Lake Scanewa above Cowlitz Falls Dam, and they released 538 coho adults and 19 jacks into the upper Cowlitz River at the Skate Creek Bridge in Packwood, Washington during the week.

A total of 200 hatchery-origin sea-run cutthroat trout and one unmarked summer-run steelhead adult were recycled downstream to the Barrier Dam boat launch.

Local food banks received 34 coho adults and 85 steelhead during the week.

River flows at Mayfield Dam are approximately 6,700 cubic feet per second on Monday, November 16, and flows are expected to remain stable. Water visibility is eight feet. River flows could change at any time so boaters and anglers should remain alert for this possibility.