1.7 million fish being evacuated from Gorge hatchery

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife staff are evacuating about 1.65 million coho salmon and 132,000 spring Chinook salmon from Cascade Hatchery Friday and Saturday due to the threat of debris flow in areas burned by the Eagle Creek Fire.

“Rain is forecast next week in areas scorched by the Eagle Creek Fire, and we expect to see mudslides and debris flow,” said Brett Requa, ODFW east region hatchery coordinator. “This could overwhelm the screens on our water intake, reducing or completely shutting off the flow of water that sustain these fish, so we want to get them moved now.”

ODFW plans to move about 500,000 Umatilla River coho and 500,000 Lostine River coho to Leaburg Hatchery, where they will be reared until next spring and then hauled back to the Umatilla and Lostine rivers.

Also, 350,000 Yakama coho will be hauled to Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery and 300,000 will be hauled to Willard National Fish Hatchery. The 132,000 spring Chinook are being hauled to Sandy Fish Hatchery.

These juvenile fish (less than 1 year old) were being transported beginning Friday morning in fish transport trucks which have oxygen supplies to help lower stress in the fish and keep them healthy.

Bonneville Hatchery has well water available and is not expected to be hit as hard by the debris flow, so their 2.4 million fish will remain on site.

Staff are also weighing options to move Oxbow Hatchery and Herman Creek coho to another hatchery in the state, but fire experts feel the Herman Creek drainage is in much better shape than the Eagle Creek drainage.

“We thank Eagle Creek firefighters for saving all the structures at our three Cascade Locks fish hatcheries,” Requa said. “ODFW will be working to limit any harmful impacts to fish due to the Eagle Creek Fire over the next few months and years.”

ODFW also thanked ODOT for delivering diesel fuel to power Cascade Hatchery’s generator over the past 10 days. The hatchery has been without power since Sept. 5.