Stand Up For Clean Water

In Live Action Alerts by Nick Chambers

When anglers think of steelhead water, we tend to think of big, muscular rivers like the Skagit, Umpqua and Eel. We don’t usually think of tributary streams small enough to step across, or even that go dry at times.   We should. Such streams are very important for steelhead, particularly for spawning and rearing. In California, for example, 64 percent of …

Science Friday: Ephemeral Streams Provide Key Steelhead Habitat

In Science Friday by Nick Chambers

    Previously we wrote about the importance of ephemeral streams to steelhead. These are smaller waters, typically in headwaters and tributary drainages, segments of which dry back in summer or that flow intermittently. Today we pick up the topic again because of recent developments on the federal policy front that threaten these important habitat areas.   On July 27, …

Science Friday: Hitch-Hiking Smolts

In Idaho, Oregon, Science Friday, Washington by Nick Chambers

Last week we talked about the importance of spill for out-migrating kelts and smolts in the Columbia Basin. Increasing spill is only one method employed to enhance downstream survival of smolts. As early as the mid-1950s smolts were loaded onto barges and moved downstream past the dams through the lock system. While fisheries managers experimented with this tactic early on …

What is a B-run steelhead?

In Oregon, Science Friday by Nick Chambers

Fisheries managers predict this will be a very bad year for returning B-run steelhead in the Snake River. The Snake, with its headwaters straddling the Teton Range on the Idaho-Wyoming border, is the largest tributary to the Columbia and its intact habitat and steelhead runs are vital to the overall health of Columbia River steelhead populations. Despite the high quality …

Science Friday: What is PNI about and why is it important?

In Science Friday by Nick Chambers

Another week, another Science Friday post from Wild Steelheaders United. Last week we discussed the acronyms used in hatchery literature and management plans. Now we narrow the focus a bit to understand how these acronyms are used with one another to evaluate genetic risks associated with hatchery programs — we even offer some formulas for you to geek out on. …

What does the Antiquities Act have to do with steelhead?

In Alaska, California, Idaho, Oregon, Washington by Nick Chambers

A seemingly innocuous little law passed in 1906 has become highly controversial in recent years. The Antiquities Act, signed into law by President Theodore Roosevelt, was a response to an escalating problem of looting of archeological and geologic resources and empowers the president to designate to significant historic, cultural, and scientific features as national monuments.   The Antiquities Act has …

The Green Mile

In Washington by steelheaders

The Green Mile By Bill Herzog Every steelheader greedily guards their favorite stretch of water. A smile inducing section that – more than anywhere – measures up to your ideals. This guy is no different. My cold weather place is always my first choice on gas burning day. Top of the list daydream inducer. The distilled definition of my winter …

Yakima Basin Integrated Plan presents next step in steelhead recovery

In Washington by steelheaders

By Justin Bezold, Project manager, Yakima, WA   No easy, one-size-fits-all solution to steelhead recovery exists in Washington; the state’s western third is often wet and lush, seemingly with water to spare year-round. The eastern two-thirds are arid and sparse, with dry streams common during critical steelhead migration and spawning periods.   While part of the underlying cause to low …