Yeah when I first saw the threads about the salmon I was lead to believe you guys were talking about the whole areas decline....
(Kinda like the heat of the argument so to speak and you were hot
)
Back in the 80s and late 70's the columbia did have a major problem with indians gill netting...
but since 1983(from what I have been reading so far ) that was supposed to be stopped hence the big jump in the 90s for salmon on the columbia.........
Now I am understanding more about the situation past boniville damn more into the snake river and its drainage's...
One thing I dont like about most of the articles I have read on the internet is that they always say salmon have to pass 200+ dams to spawn.... You and I know for a fact that is false... From the maps the most dams I could see for salmon getting up to a point in the blue mountains was 4.. and back to idaho was 5.. maps on the net suck..
But basically for a clear water salmon or steel head to get to spawn it takes 5 or 6 damns correct? not 200..
The 200 is meaning on all the little tributaries combined including all small earthen dams 5 feet or higher....
The cowlitz has a earthened dam over 10 feet (i think its 15) and I have seen them clear it with no problem.... what I would like to find is a the number of dams on the river system over 30 feet... Thirty feet and below with a fish ladder has great success and you dont have to worry about nitrogen levels and or O/2 Levels.....(cowlitz river is an excellent example for one under thirty feet)
I will keep looking.... That partial dam picture has some very good possibilities to keep both sides happy. I dont know how structually it would be.. but its and interesting concept
Delw