OAR 635-500-1500: Summer Steelhead

(1) The following operating principles apply to the Santiam and Calapooia subbasins: (a) Manage hatchery production of summer steelhead in the subbasins consistent with achieving the desired status for winter steelhead and spring Chinook populations identified in the Upper Willamette River Conservation and Recovery Plan for Chinook Salmon and Steelhead (OAR 635-500-6600). Summer steelhead shall be managed for production and harvest of hatchery fish; (b) Summer steelhead smolts shall be released into streams that have suitable adult holding habitat throughout the summer and where adults will provide optimum recreational opportunity; (c) Summer steelhead in the North Santiam shall be released at or near Minto Hatchery to protect native winter steelhead production in the North Santiam subbasin. No summer steelhead shall be released into Little North Fork Santiam River; (d) Summer steelhead in the South Santiam River shall be confined to releases at South Santiam Hatchery to protect native winter steelhead production in the upper and lower South Santiam; (e) Only smolt-sized fish shall be released to minimize competition with native salmonids; (f) Summer steelhead shall not be released in the Calapooia subbasin. (2) In accordance with these operating principles, it is the objective of the Department to: (a) Continue to maximize harvest of adults in the Santiam subbasins; (b) Minimize the potential impact of summer steelhead on native winter steelhead and trout; (c) The Department shall monitor the run for possible natural production.