Colville Confederated Tribes opens $51 million Washington fish hatchery

By Associated Press
Yakima Herald Republic

BRIDGEPORT, Wash. — A new fish hatchery that will release nearly 3 million salmon to the wild each year is set to be dedicated today in rural north-central Washington, marking the opening of the first hatchery designed and built under new scientific recommendations intended to boost fish survival rates in the Pacific Northwest.

The $51 million hatchery near Chief Joseph Dam will help to rebuild naturally occurring spawning salmon runs in areas where they were damaged by the construction and operation of Columbia River hydropower dams and allow for the reintroduction of one species — spring chinook — in the Okanogan River, where they were extirpated decades ago.

In turn, the hatchery will boost opportunities for salmon harvests for members of the Colville Confederated Tribes, who retain fishing rights in the region but have seen the supply of fish dwindle with construction of the dams, and for sport fishing. Read more