OAR 635-500-1664: Mainstem Willamette River Basin Fish Management Plan

The following objectives of the Department apply to spring Chinook in the Mainstem Willamette River: Manage the escapement of wild spring Chinook into the Willamette River to meet the desired status of independent populations in Willamette River subbasins, as described in the Upper Willamette River Conservation and Recovery Plan for Chinook Salmon and Steelhead (OAR 635-500-6600): (1) Increase the average annual run size to 100,000 Willamette spring Chinook (adults and jacks) entering the Columbia River. (2) The escapement goals for Willamette River hatchery origin spring Chinook are as follows: (a) If the preseason forecasted Willamette hatchery spring Chinook run into the Columbia River is fewer than 40,000 hatchery fish, the escapement goal after fisheries is 23,000 hatchery fish with 20,000 fish passing Willamette Falls and 3,000 fish entering the Clackamas River. (b) If the preseason forecasted Willamette hatchery spring Chinook run into the Columbia River is 40,000 to fewer than 50,000 hatchery fish, the escapement goal after fisheries is 25,300 hatchery fish with 22,000 fish passing Willamette Falls and 3,300 fish entering the Clackamas River. (c) If the preseason forecasted Willamette hatchery spring Chinook run into the Columbia River is 50,000 to fewer than 60,000 hatchery fish, the escapement goal after fisheries is 27,600 hatchery fish with 24,000 fish passing Willamette Falls and 3,600 fish entering the Clackamas River. (d) If the preseason forecasted Willamette hatchery spring Chinook run into the Columbia River is 60,000 to fewer than 70,000 hatchery fish, the escapement goal after fisheries is 30,500 hatchery fish with 26,500 fish passing Willamette Falls and 4,000 fish entering the Clackamas River. (e) If the preseason forecasted Willamette hatchery spring Chinook run into the Columbia River is 70,000 to fewer than 80,000 hatchery fish, the escapement goal after fisheries is 33,400 hatchery fish with 29,000 fish passing Willamette Falls and 4,400 fish entering the Clackamas River. (f) If the preseason forecasted Willamette hatchery spring Chinook run into the Columbia River is 80,000 to fewer than 90,000 hatchery fish, the escapement goal after fisheries is 36,900 hatchery fish with 32,000 fish passing Willamette Falls and 4,900 fish entering the Clackamas River. (g) If the preseason forecasted Willamette hatchery spring Chinook run into the Columbia River is 90,000 to fewer than 100,000 hatchery fish, the escapement goal after fisheries is 40,400 hatchery fish with 35,000 fish passing Willamette Falls and 5,400 fish entering the Clackamas River. (h) If the preseason forecasted Willamette hatchery spring Chinook run into the Columbia River is greater than 100,000 hatchery fish, the escapement goal after fisheries is 45,000 hatchery fish with 39,000 fish passing Willamette Falls and 6,000 fish entering the Clackamas River. (3) The difference between the preseason forecast of Willamette River hatchery origin spring Chinook entering the Columbia River and the escapement goal is allowable catch to be allocated to the sport and commercial fisheries in the lower Columbia, lower Willamette, and Clackamas rivers as follows: (a) If the preseason forecasted Willamette hatchery spring Chinook run into the Columbia River is fewer than 23,000 hatchery fish there is no allowable catch except sport and commercial fisheries may each take up to 1% of the run as incidental catch in non-Willamette spring Chinook target fisheries. (b) If the preseason forecasted Willamette hatchery spring Chinook run into the Columbia River is 23,000 to fewer than 40,000 hatchery fish, the entire allowable catch is allocated to the sport fishery except the commercial fishery may take up to 1% of the run as incidental catch in non-Willamette spring Chinook target fisheries. (c) If the preseason forecasted Willamette hatchery spring Chinook run into the Columbia River is 40,000 to fewer than 45,000 hatchery fish, the allowable catch is allocated 85% to the sport fishery and 15% to the commercial fishery. (d) If the preseason forecasted Willamette hatchery spring Chinook run into the Columbia River is 45,000 to fewer than 50,000 hatchery fish, the allowable catch is allocated 80% to the sport fishery and 20% to the commercial fishery. (e) If the preseason forecasted Willamette hatchery spring Chinook run into the Columbia River is 50,000 to fewer than 60,000 hatchery fish, the allowable catch is allocated 76% to the sport fishery and 24% to the commercial fishery. (f) If the preseason forecasted Willamette hatchery spring Chinook run into the Columbia River is 60,000 to fewer than 75,000 hatchery fish, the allowable catch is allocated 73% to the sport fishery and 27% to the commercial fishery. (g) If the preseason forecasted Willamette hatchery spring Chinook run into the Columbia River is greater than 75,000 hatchery fish, the allowable catch is allocated 70% to the sport fishery and 30% to the commercial fishery. (4) In the mainstem above Willamette Falls up to the mouth of the McKenzie River, maintain the opportunity for recreational catch of spring Chinook salmon consistent with opportunity in the mainstem below Willamette Falls.