Oregon's Salmon : A Cost Or A Benifit Scott Fenters Expert Fisherman

150+ Years Of Persecution “Wild Salmon have been on a 150 year downward trend and runs are now at low levels in California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and southern British Columbia, and in spite of substantial interannual and interdecadal variation. By the end of this century in these four states and southern British Columbia, wild salmon are probably not going to disappear entirely, but will most likely survive as remnants of once-flourishing species in small portions of their original range.”(Lackey[2], 3) “Wild Salmon have been on a 150 year downward trend and runs are now at low levels in California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and southern British Columbia, and in spite of substantial interannual and interdecadal variation. By the end of this century in these four states and southern British Columbia, wild salmon are probably not going to disappear entirely, but will most likely survive as remnants of once-flourishing species in small portions of their original range.”(Lackey[2], 3)

Why I Don’t Catch Fish Columbia, once considered the strongest salmon producing river in the lower forty-eight states, now runs are at less than eight percent on average and over eighty percent of the returning salmon runs are hatchery raised. (Lakey[3], 2) Columbia, once considered the strongest salmon producing river in the lower forty-eight states, now runs are at less than eight percent on average and over eighty percent of the returning salmon runs are hatchery raised. (Lakey[3], 2) In Oregon prior to the 1850’s the Coho salmon runs were estimated to be between 1.5 and 2.5 million. Using known historical data it is estimated that the average Coho run in “Good” ocean years is currently at 281,736 and is at 84,188 on “Poor” ocean years. (Meengs, 18) In Oregon prior to the 1850’s the Coho salmon runs were estimated to be between 1.5 and 2.5 million. Using known historical data it is estimated that the average Coho run in “Good” ocean years is currently at 281,736 and is at 84,188 on “Poor” ocean years. (Meengs, 18) In poor years this is only between three to six percent of historical predictions. If these trends continue, the Wild Oregon Salmon will be more of a memory than a reality. In poor years this is only between three to six percent of historical predictions. If these trends continue, the Wild Oregon Salmon will be more of a memory than a reality.

Cause Of Decline The main reasons are intense commercial, recreational, and subsistence fishing, freshwater and estuary altercations due to urbanization, farming, logging, and ranching practices, dams built for electricity, flood control, irrigation, and other purposes, water diversions for agriculture, municipal, or commercial requirements, stream and river alterations, especially diking, hatchery production, predation, competition, especially from exotic species, disease and parasites, loss of nutrients to water sheds because of smaller returning run, and there are possibly other reasons. The main reasons are intense commercial, recreational, and subsistence fishing, freshwater and estuary altercations due to urbanization, farming, logging, and ranching practices, dams built for electricity, flood control, irrigation, and other purposes, water diversions for agriculture, municipal, or commercial requirements, stream and river alterations, especially diking, hatchery production, predation, competition, especially from exotic species, disease and parasites, loss of nutrients to water sheds because of smaller returning run, and there are possibly other reasons.

What We Have Spent To Stop It. The Bonneville fish and wildlife budget is at $252 million per year already.. The Bonneville fish and wildlife budget is at $252 million per year already. Gross value of commercial salmon fisheries from 1986 to 1990 was $17 million Gross value of commercial salmon fisheries from 1986 to 1990 was $17 million Recreational fishing is around $14 million Recreational fishing is around $14 million The General Accounting Office estimates that between 1981 and 1991 $1.3 billion dollars has been spent to try to protect the Oregon salmon runs. The General Accounting Office estimates that between 1981 and 1991 $1.3 billion dollars has been spent to try to protect the Oregon salmon runs.

Brief History Of Policy Affecting Salmon January 24th, 1848 the day gold was struck in California. The effect of mining on the salmon was immediate and massive. As more people came more salmon habitat was destroyed. January 24th, 1848 the day gold was struck in California. The effect of mining on the salmon was immediate and massive. As more people came more salmon habitat was destroyed. By 1880 the hatchery program was viewed as the solution. The policy was to replace lost habitat with hatcheries to save the salmon. By 1880 the hatchery program was viewed as the solution. The policy was to replace lost habitat with hatcheries to save the salmon. The depression hit in the 1930s. Then instead of saving the salmon, the policies shifted focus to employment. This led to the United States creating huge dam such as on the Columbia River that destroyed a large percentage of salmon spawning grounds. The depression hit in the 1930s. Then instead of saving the salmon, the policies shifted focus to employment. This led to the United States creating huge dam such as on the Columbia River that destroyed a large percentage of salmon spawning grounds.

1971 the United States switched focus back to saving the salmon and entered into agreement with Canada on The Pacific Salmon Treaty although it was probably to late the United States switched focus back to saving the salmon and entered into agreement with Canada on The Pacific Salmon Treaty although it was probably to late. Alaska has almost no economic incentives to help sustain Oregon salmon and British Columbia loses millions every year reducing their catches to help sustain the lower 48 states salmon populations. For Alaska and Canada the costs seem to far outweigh the benefits to continue the Treaty causing a lot of tension between Alaska, British Columbia, and the lower forty-eight states. Alaska has almost no economic incentives to help sustain Oregon salmon and British Columbia loses millions every year reducing their catches to help sustain the lower 48 states salmon populations. For Alaska and Canada the costs seem to far outweigh the benefits to continue the Treaty causing a lot of tension between Alaska, British Columbia, and the lower forty-eight states.

In 1991 several salmon populations were listed under the First Salmon Distinct population Segment under the Endangered Species Act. “The policy debate shifted away from restoring salmon runs to support harvest and fishing, to protecting salmon runs from extinction, two very different policy objectives.” (Lackey[3],2) In 1991 several salmon populations were listed under the First Salmon Distinct population Segment under the Endangered Species Act. “The policy debate shifted away from restoring salmon runs to support harvest and fishing, to protecting salmon runs from extinction, two very different policy objectives.” (Lackey[3],2) Hatcheries are now considered one of the main problems. Hatcheries are now considered one of the main problems. in 2001 Oregon was experiencing drought conditions and California was having rolling blackouts. The Bonneville Power Administration had to abandon the previous goals and use the water that was allocated to salmon for power production. in 2001 Oregon was experiencing drought conditions and California was having rolling blackouts. The Bonneville Power Administration had to abandon the previous goals and use the water that was allocated to salmon for power production.

“In one of the most striking recent barometers of societal priorities, air conditioners, hair dryers, and toasters, won out over both hatchery bred and wild salmon – and with scant public opposition.”(Lackey[2], 5) “In one of the most striking recent barometers of societal priorities, air conditioners, hair dryers, and toasters, won out over both hatchery bred and wild salmon – and with scant public opposition.”(Lackey[2], 5) Looking at present day policy, the federal government follows the Economic and Environmental Principles and Guidelines for Water and Related Land Resources Implementation Studies or the WRC for guidelines. For Bonneville to consider a project it must use a cost- benefit approach considering municipal and industrial water supplies, agriculture, urban flood damage, power production, inland navigation, deep-draft navigation, recreation, commercial fishing, and other direct effects. Looking at present day policy, the federal government follows the Economic and Environmental Principles and Guidelines for Water and Related Land Resources Implementation Studies or the WRC for guidelines. For Bonneville to consider a project it must use a cost- benefit approach considering municipal and industrial water supplies, agriculture, urban flood damage, power production, inland navigation, deep-draft navigation, recreation, commercial fishing, and other direct effects.

Are previous and present policies wrong? Are previous and present policies wrong? Policies biased on monetary values. Policies biased on monetary values. Free Markets and Free trade Free Markets and Free trade “We should not hide behind political drivel that computers, automobiles, and potatoes can be produced just as cheaply in a salmon friendly manner. They cannot. How many individuals are willing to forego purchasing a bright red tomato in February grown in a hot house heated with electricity from salmon killing dams? Not Many.” (Lackey[2], 4) “We should not hide behind political drivel that computers, automobiles, and potatoes can be produced just as cheaply in a salmon friendly manner. They cannot. How many individuals are willing to forego purchasing a bright red tomato in February grown in a hot house heated with electricity from salmon killing dams? Not Many.” (Lackey[2], 4)

Individual tastes must change (A/C) Individual tastes must change (A/C) More people, more competition More people, more competition