Chinook salmon spawning season underway

Boaters are being urged to steer clear of salmon spawning areas on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River.

The spawning areas, known as ‘redds” are expected to pick up activity as a rare and distinct wild population of Chinook salmon begins. The redds support about 5,000 eggs each.

The Middle Fork is one of the most popular whitewater wilderness river trips in the nation. The Middle Fork Outfitters Association (MFOA) is encouraging boaters to steer clear of the salmon spawning area for the next 30 days.

“We are trying to assist the Forest Service to make sure that all Middle Fork float parties are aware that they need to up their game to avoid the redds,” said Grant Simonds, government
liaison for MFOA.

The Middle Fork supports wild spring/summer Chinook salmon, which are listed as “threatened” under the Endangered Species Act. The number of salmon returning has been decreasing steadily since four federal dams were built on the Lower Snake River in the 1960’s and 70’s.

“The Middle Fork is in pristine condition, so the reason for the decline is totally a consequence of downriver impacts caused by the dams and reservoirs,” says Tom Stuart, a Stanley-based board member of Idaho Rivers United, a statewide conservation group. “The salmon are in trouble. The importance of the wild fish on the Middle Fork cannot be overstated.”

MFOA printed special “Do Not Disturb Chinook salmon spawning” waterproof boat tags that will be handed out to every boat captain on the Middle Fork.