Shifting Seasons: Climate change’s impact on Oregon’s native fish populations
Shannon Brady
Fish play a huge role in Oregon’s culture, economy, and ecological health. People travel across the country just to cast lines in Oregon’s rivers. But changes to the climate might mean changes to your fishing trips.Local fishermen shared the importance of protecting fish passage and getting the fish upstream.
Fish passage refers to the ability for migratory fish to move freely and efficiently through a water system. Population declines of native salmon, steelhead, and trout are primarily due to obstructions to their passage such as habitat alteration and loss, hydropower development, and over-harvesting.Oregon’s state climatologist Larry O’Neill broke down a key ingredient for fish survival: “River levels decline, become warmer, and so it puts a stress on whatever ecosystems are in the river corridors…all these fish rely on a good amount of cold water.”
Confluence Fly Shop manager in Bend, and longtime angler, Tye Kreuger has noticed changes in his fishing.
He says, “During years or periods of drought or light snowfall, levels in those reservoirs have changed. In my time here, I’ve watched the quality of the fishing ebb and flow. Water temperatures, water levels, all those things are variables that impact the behavior and, I guess, the performance, if you could attach that word to it, of our fishery.”
Only a fraction of salmon and steelhead populations have returned in recent years. Currently, 28 west coast salmon and steelhead populations are listed as threatened or endangered. But, there has been recovery progress.
Habitat restoration and protection measures have been implemented on the federal, state, and local level. The continuation of these conservation efforts will be key in preserving our native species for years to come.