Lake Washington may get permanent hatchery | Outdoors

After three consecutive years of dismal returns, it looks like Lake Washington sockeye are on the verge of getting a huge boost.

The final permit to build a permanent hatchery facility on the Cedar River was granted this past week, which paves the way for construction to begin in early summer.

The hatchery, estimated to cost Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) about $12 million to build, should be fully operational by September 2011.

"At this point there is nothing holding up proceeding with the project, and the funding is also there," said Frank Urabeck, a longtime sport fishing advocate and Cedar River Council member. "Everybody wants to break out the Champagne, but I'm not quite ready to do that just yet."

Urabeck's hesitation is that there are some things humans can't control, and it could take up to five years to build the lake's sockeye return to fishing levels.

"Now we need to get a break from Mother Nature on lake and marine survival so we can have a fishery again before I get too old to know which end of a pole to hold," Urabeck said.

Only 22,166 (preseason forecast was 19,300) sockeye entered the lake this past summer compared to 33,702 in 2008. The 2009 total was the worst since 1972.

Undesirable ocean survival due to a lack of food and predation are thought to be the likely culprits in the poor returns, plus periodic severe flooding in the Cedar River.

The temporary hatchery, operational since 1991, has the capacity to produce 17 million fry, and has done so at least once during that period. The permanent hatchery would have the capacity to produce 34 million fry.

At the Cedar River Anadromous Committee meeting in mid-October the group was briefed that work crews at the interim sockeye hatchery had collected 3.3-million sockeye eggs.

A total of 2,411 sockeye were hauled to the hatchery through Oct. 15, 2009.

"We got more eggs (in 2009) and we're very pleased to hear this news," Urabeck said, despite given the low returns and challenges that SPU and state Fish and Wildlife faced in 2008 collecting broodstock.

Urabeck says the permanent hatchery will also have some positive benefits.

"The new facility will have the ability to affect the water temperature, and that would increase survival rates and allow those fry to develop in better conditions. Therefore the longer you wait to release them the better the environment will be, plus the food supply in the lake will be much more abundant."

A last-ditch effort by former King County Dept. of Natural Resources staffer Roz Glasser to stop the hatchery through litigation was turned down last month in the Western Washington District U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

Lake Washington sockeye were introduced to the lake in the 1930s using a stock that originated from Baker Lake in Skagit County.

It is hard to imagine that just four years ago in 2006 the lake hosted a 13-day sport fishery when 458,005 sockeye made it back. At least 350,000 are needed for spawning escapement before a fishery is allowed. Other sport fisheries occurred in 1996, 2000, 2002 and 2004.

This fishery generates millions of dollars in revenues, and attracts hordes of anglers to catch these tasty fish.

"We should be appreciative of all the hard work accomplished by Seattle Public Utilities, their consultants, and outside supporters, including King County Councilmen Larry Phillips and Reagan Dunn, the Cedar River Council and the sport fishing community," Urabeck said.

Urabeck also pointed out that good cooperation all around, including the Muckleshoot and other tribes not netting the lake in the fall for coho all helped in getting more sockeye back that would have been incidentally caught.

"Hopefully we can all go fishing again soon," Urabeck said.

Notes

• The Orvis Store, 10223 N.E. 10th St. in Bellevue is hosting a beginning fly tying classes Feb. 1, 3, 8 and 10. Cost is $100. Details: 425-452-9138.

• The Eastside Chapter of Puget Sound Anglers meeting is 7 p.m. Jan. 20 at the North Bellevue Community Center, 4063 148th Ave. N.E. Guest speaker is Anton Jones of Darrell & Dads Family Guide Service in Lake Chelan. Details: 425-408-1930.

• The Coast Guard Auxiliary Edmonds Flotilla is offering two 12-week boating classes for experienced and novice boaters. The Weekend Navigator begins Feb. 9, and the Boating Skills and Seamanship begins Feb. 11. Details: 360-668-0196.

• The Summit at Snoqualmie is hosting a safety week now through Jan. 22. This includes a 20-percent discount on Bern helmets, avalanche dog demonstrations, a safety carnival, backcountry safety demonstrations, snow safety presentations and more. Details: www.summitatsnoqualmie.com.

• Boaters considering a cruise to Southeast Alaska can attend a workshop 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Feb. 27 at the Seattle Yacht Club, 1807 E. Hamlin St. in Seattle. The event is co-sponsored by Washington Sea Grant and the Seattle Yacht Club. Cost is $20. Details: 206-543-1225 or 206-325-1000.

• The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission Boating Programs group is looking for volunteers to help staff a booth at the Seattle Boat Show Jan. 29-Feb. 6 at the Qwest Field Event Center in Seattle. Details: 360-902-8833 or 360-902-8837.

• The Mountain Hardwear's free avalanche clinic is 7 p.m. Jan. 19 at its 250 Pine Street store in Seattle. Learn what clues to look for, gear to take, routes to follow and what to do if you or a companion are caught in an avalanche. Details: http://mountainhardwear.ning.com/events.

• The Washington Sportsmen's Show is Jan. 27-31 at the Western Washington Fairgrounds in Puyallup. Details: www.otshows.com.

• The Seattle Boat Show is Jan. 29-Feb. 6 at Qwest Field and South Lake Union. Details: www.seattleboatshow.com.

• The Woodinville Parks and Recreation is offering a nine-week "Introduction to Fly-fishing" evening class starting Jan. 21. Fishing guide Dick Lange with Alaska Rivers Fly Fishing Adventures is the instructor. Cost is $39 for Woodinville residents and $44.85 for nonresidents, plus a $15 fee for course manual. Details: 425-398-9327 or www.ci.woodinville.wa.us.

• The Washington Steelhead Coalition winter membership meeting is 6:30 p.m. Jan. 28 at the University of Washington Center for Urban Horticulture Hall. Details: www.wildsteelheadcoalition.org.

• The Wilderness Awareness School in Duvall is hosting a Snow Tracking and Winter Survival Weekend, Feb. 5-7 at the Skalitude Retreat Center in Twisp. It is open to ages 18 and older. Skills covered include winter-shelter building, wildlife tracking, plant uses, physiology of survival and the survivalist mindset. Cost is $375, including organic meals and lodging. The school is a national not-for-profit environmental education organization established in 1983. Details: 425-788-1301 or www.wildernessawareness.org.

• The Washington Sea Grant and Port of Seattle Fishermen's Terminal are hosting a Coast Guard-approved First Aid at Sea course 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Feb. 22. at the Nordby Building on Fishermen's Terminal in Seattle. Cost is $80. Details: 206-543-1225.

• The Everett Blackmouth Derby hosted by the Everett Salmon and Steelhead Club is March 20 in Marine Catch Areas 8-1, 8-2 and 9. Cost is $100 per boat, with a maximum of four anglers per boat. Largest fish is worth $3,000. Details: www.everettblackmouthderby.com.

• 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 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