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attributed to high harvest rates by commercial and sport fishing stimulated by great abundance 

 of hatchery coho salmon. From 1970 through 1989, the survival from fisheries to spawning 

 escapement of coho salmon in the OPI (Oregon Production Index area form north of the 

 Columbia River south into California) for combined ocean and Columbia river fisheries, 

 averaged only 16 percent. 



Overfishing of OPI coho salmon stocks was recognized in the late 1970s and a formal 

 escapement goal of 200,000 adults was set in 1979. This was based on long term biological 

 sustainable yield. The 200,000 spawner goal was met only in one of the past 13 years (1984) 

 and was close in two years (1985 and 1986). It is important to note that in each year that the 

 spawning escapement goal was not met, catch exceeded the goal by a factor of 2 to 5. 



In contrast to coho salmon underescapement problems, spawning escapement goals for Oregon 

 north coastal and Columbia River fall chinook salmon have generally been met. Spawning 

 escapement goals for the Klamath River fall chinook, important in southern Oregon ocean 

 harvests, have only been met in 2 of the past 13 years. From 1978 through 1990, spawning 

 escapement averaged less than half of the biological escapement goal. Harvest rates in the ocean 

 have been excessive. In addition, targeted harvest of relatively abundant Columbia fall chinook 

 salmon has adversely affected the Snake River fall chinook salmon stock. By comparison, only 

 30 percent of Puget Sound stocks have met established spawning escapement goals while 84 

 percent of Washington coastal stocks have met their goals. 



In addition to aggravating mixed-stock fishery problems, hatcheries have outplanted fry and 

 smolts to various steams and used brood stocks that were from other geographic areas. Hatchery- 

 produced adults escaped fisheries and hatchery weirs and strayed to other streams. The result 

 was hybridization between native and hatchery stocks. The native coho salmon gene pool in 

 coastal-OPI-area coho salmon populations is probably near extinction, and the lower Columbia 

 River native gene pool is virtually extinct. The estimated percentage of hatchery fish in coastal 

 chinook salmon populations ranges from 10 to 40 percent. 



Today most, though not all. Pacific Northwest salmonids are hatchery produced fish. Over 75 

 percent of all Columbia River salmonids are hatchery fish. In Washington, about 30 percent of 

 the fish are from hatcheries. In Puget Sound almost half of the fish are from hatcheries while 

 on the coast less than 25 percent are hatchery fish. 



ENVIRONMENTAL 



Water Use 



Of the environmental factors that have adversely affected native salmonid populations, water use 

 is clearly the most serious, especially in the Columbia basin. Water use includes flood control, 

 irrigation, hydropower, navigation, municipal, industrial, rural household, stock, and 

 recreational uses. Our society competes with wild salmonids for limited water supplies 

 throughout the state. Flood control, irrigation, and hydropower are inseparable for larger water 



