A story in the Columbia Basin Bulletin (link above) reports that “a total of 60,359 unmarked steelhead had passed … [Lower Granite Dam]… [t]hat betters the previous record, a March through December total of 59,291 wild steelhead in 2002.”  This is good news, but it is not a record.  For this year’s wild Snake River steelhead run into Idaho and eastern Oregon to become a record it still needs to surpass

62,873 in 1965,

65,798 in 1966,

74,539 in 1963,

82,383 in 1968, and

115,796 in 1962.  So this year’s return is not a record.  So far it’s holding 6th place.

The Bulletin states, “The wild steelhead record only dates back to 1994 when the marking of hatchery fish had become more commonplace.”  True as far as far as when marking hatchery fish started, but also incorrect when taking into account that prior to hatchery steelhead coming on to the scene all Snake River steelhead could be considered wild steelhead.  Therefore, the returns into the Snake River in the 1960s are when the record wild steelhead runs happened.  Before hatcheries.  Before all the dams were built.

Andy Brunelle