Court ordered North Umpqua hatchery summer steelhead released today

North Umpqua River - Roseburg, OR (Douglas County)


by OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Staff
5-20-2022
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ROSEBURG, Ore – Hatchery summer steelhead smolts were released today from Rock Creek Hatchery into the North Umpqua River per a court order issued this week by the Marion County Circuit Court.

Petitioners Douglas County, Umpqua Fishery Enhancement Derby, Inc., and Scott Worsley (a fishing guide) filed for a preliminary injunction seeking to prevent from taking effect the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission's April 22 decision to not release hatchery summer steelhead smolts in 2022 and to eliminate the Rock Creek hatchery summer steelhead program until the case is decided on its merits or is otherwise disposed of by the court.

Under the court order issued yesterday after a May 18 hearing, approximately 70,000 hatchery summer steelhead smolts are being "volitionally released" (meaning leave the raceway on their own). Any smolts that do not migrate out of the raceway will be transported outside the range of summer steelhead rearing habitat to minimize risk of competition to wild juvenile summer steelhead in the river. Volitional releases have been standard practice with summer steelhead at Rock Creek Hatchery.

The court order also requires the Petitioners and ODFW to work together and with others in the region to seek out and support implementation and funding of an effective trapping program at the hatchery to further mitigate any potential harm to wild summer steelhead.

The ODFW Commission's decision to eliminate the Rock Creek Hatchery summer steelhead program is enjoined until the case is decided on its merits or is otherwise disposed of by the court.

The Commission decided at its May 13 meeting to hold a special meeting to discuss information received from various tribes and other comments related to the Rock Creek summer steelhead hatchery program. In light of the court's decision, that meeting is delayed to a future (yet to be determined) date.




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OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Reports
for Thursday, May 19th, 2022
: ODFW Recreation Report
Chewaucan River: People have already caught some really nice trout in the river with lures
Fourmile Lake: The road into Fourmile Lake is still closed by the USFS
Gerber Reservoir: The reservoir is 16 percent full
Heart Lake: Fishing has been good for fish in the 6-8” range
Holbrook Reservoir: Trolling for rainbows is very productive as is bait fishing
Upper Klamath Lake: The lake remains 2.5 feet below full pool and 61 percent full
Lake Of The Woods: Lake of the Woods has been stocked heavily with trophy rainbows
Lofton Reservoir: This reservoir will be stocked this week
Miller Lake: The recent snow might block access
Sprague River: Fishing will improve for redband trout as water temperatures increase
North Fork Sprague River: Flows have decreased to 147 cfs
South Fork Sprague River: Snow will limit access to some areas
Sun Creek: The Sun Pass State Road is closed. Fishing not recommended at this time.
Williamson River: Upper Williamson River Report
Wood River: Water temperatures remain very cold
Umatilla River: The spring Chinook season opened on April 15
Wallowa Lake : There are some nice kokanee available this year
Tillamook Bay: Spring Chinook are in Tillamook Bay
Trask River: There have been fish caught at the hatchery hole and Loren’s drift
Alton Baker Canoe Canal: Will be stocked again this week
Dexter Reservoir: Was last stocked the week of May 2nd
EE Wilson Angling Pond: Will be stocked this week
Fall Creek: Was last stocked the week of May 9
Foster Reservoir: The water level in the reservoir is currently low
Green Peter Reservoir: Recent fishing reports are that the bass fishing is good
Junction City Pond: The pond will be stocked this week
McKenzie River: McKenzie River Fishing Report
Middle Fork of the Williamette: The Middle Fork Willamette River is open to bait below Dexter Dam only
Quartzville Creek: Light tackle including flies works best, but bait is allowed
Salmon Creek: Will be stocked again this week
Santiam River (South Fork): Hatchery trout harvest season will reopen on May 22
Timber Linn Lake: It will be stocked this week
Walling Pond: The pond will be stocked this week
Waverly Lake: This lake will be stocked this week
Applegate Reservoir: The reservoir is a remarkable 78 percent capacity
Ben Irving Reservoir: Bass fishing has been picking up with some good water conditions
Coos River: Trout fishing in streams and rivers reopen May 22
Coquille River: The mainstem Coquille and the main forks have been running high and muddy
Diamond Lake: Anglers are catching healthy fish that average about 14 inches
Emigrant Reservoir: Water clarity is surprisingly good for this time of year
Fish Lake : Fish lake is ice free
Howard Prairie Reservoir: Access at Howard Prairie is currently limited to the gravel ramp near the dam
Hyatt Lake: Hyatt has already seen its likely peak water level for the year and is now dropping daily
Lemolo Lake: Lemolo is just a few feet from being full
Rogue River - Middle: There are still reports of a few winter fish being caught
Rogue River- Upper: Trout fishing opens on Sunday, May 22
Rogue River- Upper (Above Lost Creek): This week will see the first trout stockings
Umpqua River: Umpqua River Fishing Report