Waterfowl populations look similar to last year

The statewide waterfowl hunting season will begin sometime in October, and early indications show bird populations in breeding areas look similar to last year.

"The main waterfowl breeding areas of Alaska and northern Alberta look all the same as last year, but I haven't gotten anything yet for British Columbia," said Don Kraege, a state Fish and Wildlife waterfowl manager.

"We are above the long term average [for migratory birds] and average for local birds," Kraege said.

Duck hunting last year was fairly good throughout Washington.

"We had all that snow and cold weather, which really improved success in late December and January," Kraege said. "And on the eastside we did not see that many birds, but harvest was good."

Kraege said snow geese populations in Wrangell Island, a breeding ground in the Arctic Ocean, were decent so hunters can expect another good return of birds to the Skagit area this fall.

State Fish and Wildlife will announce the waterfowl hunting seasons sometime in August.

Tribe reviving wild Elwha steelhead

In an effort to keep the wild steelhead in the Elwha River on the Olympic Peninsula from disappearing forever, the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe is hard at work raising them in a hatchery.

The fish being raised at the tribe's hatchery aren't hatchery fish, but are part of the tribe's captive wild steelhead broodstock program.

"We've found that wild steelhead tend to emigrate to the ocean as 2-year-olds, so we'll try to rear them to that age before we release them," said Larry Ward, a fisheries biologist and hatchery manager for the tribe. "We've been successful at raising the 2005 stock to spawning maturity, so things are going well so far."

The program was designed to make sure wild steelhead remain in the river during the 2011 deconstruction of the Elwha River's two dams, 210-foot Glines Canyon and 108-foot Elwha.

Back in 1913, this once unblemished river that hosted all five salmon species and steelhead was blocked by the first of two hydroelectric dams, forever clogging fish migration to the upper 38 miles of mainstem and more than 30 miles of tributary habitat. That left only the lower five miles of river available for spawning fish since then.

Each summer the tribe collects steelhead fry from the Elwha River, and raises them in the hatchery.

The fry are believed to be last of the river's naturally spawning stock. Fry collected back in 2005 are now 4-year-olds, and were spawned this spring; their progeny are expected to be released as 2-year-olds in 2011.

The tribe collected blood and scale samples, as well as kept track of the genetic makeup of each fish. Two or three males were spawned for every female and the fertilized eggs are incubating in the tribe's hatchery.

More than 250,000 eggs were taken and fertilized from the 2005 fish this spring.

Hopes are to have fish run recovery in the Elwha River by 2030.

Others lending a hand with the project include National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, state Fish and Wildlife and U.S. Fish & Wildlife.

Funding for the steelhead project comes from the Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund.

The total cost of the dam removal project is estimated at $308 million.

Notes

• The Lewis Street boat launch on the Skykomish River off Highway 203 in Monroe will be closed to public access July 20-30 for installation of a new boat ramp and to make other improvements such as paving a portion of the access site and adding ADA parking.

Two nearby boat ramps open are in Sultan off Highway 2, and off First Street in Snohomish.

• A campground in the William T. Wooten Wildlife Area in southeast Washington will be closed until further notice while state wildlife officials remove trees that pose a potential risk to campers.

About 40 to 50 trees growing on a hillside above the campground were damaged during the Columbia Complex fire, which burned more than 100,000 acres and injured seven people in 2006. The campground is popular for anglers and hikers, and will reopen as soon as possible.

• The Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group is looking for volunteers to help with the summer chum project on the Union River in Belfair. The site is watched 24 hours a day from Aug. 15-Oct. 15. Details: 360-275-3575 or e-mail Julie@hcseg.org.

• The National Park Service has announced three fee-free weekends this summer.

At Mount Rainier and other national parks, all park entrance fees, including commercial tour entrance fees, will be waived today and Aug. 15-16.

These fee-free weekends are in addition to the usual fee-free days: National Public Lands Day, which is Sept. 26 this year, and Veterans Day, Nov. 11.

The waiver does not include other fees, such as those charged for camping, reservations, climbing or use of concessions. Details: www.nps.gov.

• The new nonprofit Cascade Musky Association is looking for members. Cost is $25 or $35 for a couple/family membership. Details: www.cascademuskyassociation.com or www.wafish.com.

• The Washington Fly Fishing Club meeting is 5:30 p.m. on the third Tuesday of every month at the Seattle Tennis Club. Please RSVP to attend meetings. Details: www.WFFC.com.

• The Mount St. Helens Institute offers a free Sunday Hiking Program series of 14 hikes in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest now through Oct. 25. The hikes range from easy to difficult, and are 4 to 10 miles round-trip. Space is limited and reservations are required. While the hikes are free, a $5 donation is suggested. Details: www.mshinstitute.org.

• The Western Bass Club meets every third Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Kennydale Hall in Renton. Details: www.westernbassclub.comor www.nickbarrfishing.com.

• The Washington Trails Association offers statewide trip reports and trail conditions. Details: www.wta.org.

• The Northwest Fly Anglers offer various public classes through the year. The public also is invited to club meetings on the third Thursday of each month, at the Haller Lake Community Center, 12579 Densmore Ave N., in North Seattle. Details: 206-684-7524.

• The Emerald Sea Dive Club offers year-round activities, including the big buddy program and weekly and monthly dives. The club meets on the first Wednesday of every month, 7-9 p.m. at Alfy's Pizza, 4820 196th SW in Lynnwood. Details: 425-775-2410 or www.emeraldseadiveclub.org.

• The Seattle Audubon Society offers field trips and classes every month. Details: 206-523-4483 or www.seattleaudubon.org.

• Northend Bassmasters is accepting new members who want to learn more about bass fishing. The group meets on the first Tuesday of every month at 7 p.m. at the Crystal Creek Cafe, 22620 Bothell-Everett Highway (Canyon Park) in Bothell. Details: 206-789-4259 or e-mail Gary Millard at glmillard@comcast.net.

Mark Yuasa: 206-464-8780 or myuasa@seattletimes.com