Joint Staff Report Concerning the 2000 In-river Commercial Harvest of Columbia River Fall Chinook Salmon, Summer Steelhead, Coho Salmon, and Sturgeon

This report describes fall fisheries in the mainstem Columbia River and includes summaries of 1999 fall fisheries, 2000 management guidelines, expected 2000 fall fish runs, and the outlook for 2000 fall fisheries. This report is the third in an annual series produced by the Joint Columbia River Management Staff of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) prior to each major Columbia River Compact hearing. Early and late fall management periods are combined in this report. Information and recommendations concerning Select Area fisheries are reported separately.

The 2000 fall Compact hearing will begin at 10 AM, July 27, at the ODFW Headquarters Office, 2501 S.W. 1st Avenue, Portland, Oregon. The purpose of the hearing is to consider fishing seasons for the commercial harvest of fall chinook, coho, steelhead, and sturgeon in Compact jurisdiction waters of the Columbia River. Following the hearing, the states will consider Select Area fall salmon seasons for Big Creek, Youngs Bay, Tongue Point, Blind Slough, and Deep River. Additional Compact hearings will be scheduled to address treaty Indian commercial seasons, other non-Indian commercial seasons, and in-season adjustments to all commercial fisheries.

Salmon and summer steelhead returns are forecast prior to the fall season and are updated in-season based on the most current estimates of Alaska, British Columbia, and WA/OR ocean catches, dam counts, and in-river fishery information. The data in this report are a consensus of the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) which completed review prior to printing. TAC is comprised of biologists from state and federal fish management agencies and the Columbia River treaty Indian tribes, and functions by agreement of the parties under U.S. v. Oregon.