Your PUD
News Release
Water for fish passage to be spilled starting April 17 at Rock Island Dam
Chelan County PUD
News Release
4/15/2005
Water will be sent through spill gates at Rock Island Dam starting early Sunday, April 17, to aid young salmon and steelhead on their annual journey down the Columbia River to the ocean.
Under terms agreed to with fishery agencies and tribes, Chelan County PUD will spill 20 percent of the daily estimated average flow for steelhead, salmon and sockeye through early June. Spill gates will be opened just after midnight on Sunday. There will be additional spill into August for sub-yearling chinook salmon.
Chelan County PUD was notified that the federal fish hatchery at Leavenworth is releasing 2 million young salmon into the Wenatchee River on Friday and Saturday. They are expected to make their way to Rock Island Dam by Sunday, triggering the decision to begin spill.
Fish spill at Rocky Reach Dam is expected to start the first of May, when young fish from upriver tributaries are expected to arrive.
The fish bypass system at Rocky Reach has been in operation since early April.
For safety, boaters are urged to stay far away from dam spillways and the outflow pipe of the fish bypass system below Rocky Reach.
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Kimberlee Craig
Public Information Officer
661.4320, office
679.6958, cell
kimc@chelanpud.org