June Hogs?

[Grant Scheele]

I read a post where somebody talked about "June Hogs" of the Columbia in the present tense. Do these fish still exist? I thought that their genetic line was erased when the Grand Coulee Dam stopped them from reaching spawning grounds. Anybody?

[sgs]

There is a picture I believe I saw up at Multnomah falls with this guy standing knee deep, (almost), in these huge chinook. The caption says something to the effect that these fish were summer chinook that went up the river averaging 70lbs! It makes me sick when I think about us deciding to do w/o those fish. I was pretty young, (about two years old or so), when these damms were proposed and built such as the Deschutes and some of the Columbia damms. I have often wondered what public opionion was during these times. Where the damms just built behind closed doors w/o much opportunity for public input or was it just done "in the name of progress?" I think about salmon running up into little streams like the Metolius and it just boggles my mind that these projects were allowed by the people of this state. Not that there aren't terrible things going on right now under our noses as I write this. I guess it just comes down to innaction on the part of the public. Until someone comes and tells me the world is so screwed now that they are gonna have to take away my easy chair and my big screen, I'll just sit here on my "arse." They take my t.v. away though, then I'll be ******.

[Pete]

I agree that loss of these mighty fish is a tragedy and a blight on history. But we should keep some perspective, too. Some of the dams powered the industry that built many of the planes and boats which helped win WWII. They have also allowed us to grow watermelons in the desert.

[TheRogue]

Right on, Pete

[sgs]

I agree with you Instigator. I sure do enjoy our modern way of life here in Oregon. From this computer to my electric trolling motor and everything in between that those dams power. It's a tough issue and what's done is done for the most part. You can't just sit around and complain about past mistakes either, I guess. We learn from our mistakes, take the good w/ the bad and go from there. Sometimes, I have a tendency to dwell on what it was like back then w/ all those fish and what could have been done to save them. Hindsight is.......

[Deleted User]

Pete,
Also sgs gets to watch his TV and so many other things due to dams. It's a shame about the loss of the June Hogs and all other fish since! to bad they couldn't have found an alternative power sourse. Guess we're still trying. Ins.