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| 11/22/2006 12:01:00 AM | Email this article • Print this article
Comment on this article | Chum numbers tumble with hatchery cuts, more gillnetters
WILLAPA BAY - On Saturday, about three dozen members of Friends of Willapa National Wildlife Refuge gathered at the refuge headquarters for their annual meeting and board election. They breezed through the routine business such as elections, annual review, and some minor modifications to the bylaws, but the highlight was a chance for the members to hear Ron Craig of the Willapa Bay Enhancement Group speak on the subject: "Salmon Restoration on Willapa Bay."
The Friends of Willapa NWR, about 355 members strong, volunteer hours of time to refuge projects. They hold educational programs for school children, help with trail maintenance and invasive species control, rehabilitate stream beds and endangered species habitat, award scholarships: to name a few of their endeavors. They are always looking for additional opportunities - and members. All types of talents and skills, from news article writing, to teaching, to manual labor, are welcomed and promptly put to use.
"Without all of you contributing to this program," said refuge employee Kristine Massin, "we wouldn't be able to do half of what we do." Massin has worked at various refuges, and she said, "I have never, ever seen a friends group that is as effective, well organized, and fun to work with as the group here. This group does a phenomenal job."
Ron Craig, the featured speaker, gave a brief historical review of the activities of the group and outlined future plans. Previous to the board there were some Willapa Bay fishermen who formed a group to discuss what problems they were facing and what they could do to create a more productive fish population. From that group the Board was developed which has obtained funding for and managed stream enhancement projects.
Using a well organized and colorful Power Point presentation, Craig explained the methods that have been used to "clean up a stream." The first step is removal of culverts, which were replaced by bridges. The swiftly moving water in the culverts was an obstacle for chum salmon. Then large woody debris was added at appropriate locations to also slow the velocity of the water and give resting sites for the salmon. Slowing the velocity also allowed gravel to be deposited on the stream bed which is necessary for the salmon reproductive process.
From 1985 to 2001 millions of salmon were raised in local hatcheries and released into Willapa Bay streams. In 2001 the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife made a decision to limit the ability of the hatcheries and the Enhancement Board to obtain eggs. Since then the abundance of chum salmon has decreased dramatically. Concurrent with that situation, there has also been an increase in the number of gill net licenses from 150 in 1987 to 460 in 2006. The Fish Enhancement Board is currently undertaking the task of studying the fish decline.
Having outlined the stream restoration activities of the Fish Enhancement Board and some of the current problems in the fishery in Willapa Bay, Craig went on to show the Friends group some of the community projects the board has been involved in South Bend. They received funding and managed the building of a boat launch in 2003-04. In 2005 their next project was the construction of piers and floats and for their future project they are applying for funds for a Nature Trail along the Willapa River.
For more info on Friends of Willapa National Wildlife Refuge, visit (http://www.friendsofwillaparefuge.org/). To find out more about the refuge, call 360-484-3482.
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