ODFW's Fuzzy Math Fails to Protect the Deschutes

Sport angling on the lower Deschutes River does not drive steelhead populations. In fact, its impact is very minimal. As we have discussed in previous communications, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) closed the lower Deschutes River to angling for steelhead on September 1. This was in reaction to a record low number of steelhead returning to the Columbia Basin. In response to the closure, a group of over twenty guides and outfitters who depend on the lower Deschutes River sent a letter to ODFW. The response they received was very deceiving. Michael R. Harrington, Fish Division Administrator for ODFW wrote: Your letter raised particular concern about the impact of commercial fisheries. Our preliminary estimate of incidental impact for these fisheries is 0.23% and 0.43% impact on wild A and B run steelhead respectively. For comparison, in recent years, the incidental mortality impact associated within the Deschutes tributary fishery has ranged from 2-6%.   When reading that, it could be easy to believe that sport angling has a larger impact than gillnetting. Here at the DRA, we did a little number crunching to get to the truth. Based on numbers through September 20 at Sherars Falls (that is the most current and best data we could get), 39 steelhead were counted. Using Mr. Harrington’s worst-case numbers this would result in 2.34 steelhead killed by sport anglers.   When we look at the numbers at Bonneville, 66,995 steelhead have been counted since July 1 according to Mr. Harrington’s letter. Using his best-case scenario for mortality (0.23%), this would mean that 154 steelhead would be killed by commercial fisheries. Very simply put – this means around 65 times more steelhead are killed by commercial fisheries than sport anglers. The team at DRA will continue to fight for those who rely on the Deschutes. The livelihoods of rural Oregonians and recreators on the river must be taken into account when decisions like this are made. That is why DRA continues to pressure agencies to put the needs of all river users front and center in their decision making.