North Santiam River Report Nov. 17
November 17, 2003
North Santiam River Report
The North Santiam came up a slight amount last week, and has been about 2160 cubic feet per second at Niagara and 2500 cfs at Mehama. Jefferson has been around 2900. Steelhead are still being caught and some are still in prime shape. The river is still clear and beautiful as fall is turning into winter.
More people have been catching steelhead between Mill City and Mehama than around Packsaddle and Minto. The numbers of fish should be greater at the upper locations, but the water is more difficult to fish. With safer boating in the lower section, it makes sense that more people would fish and catch there.
More meetings have been held regarding the possible trail project along the river from Lyons and Mehama up to Detroit and Idanha. Different routes are being considered in several areas because of possible problems with access issues. The benefits to the community could be great, but many problems need to be solved. The project is named the “Alternate Transportation Link” and public input is being asked for.
Dave Heard’s funeral was well attended by people from all parts of his life. Many river people have fond memories of the great mentoring he provided. His non-river activities were good community and family service, and the river people will miss him.
Salem Chapter of Steelheaders will meet on Wednesday, November 19 at 7:00 p.m. at the Salem Library, and Terry Jones from the Marion Forks Hatchery will be the program speaker. Since the North Santiam River is the historical fish factory of the Willamette system, it is an important hatchery and fishery. Terry enjoys sport fishing for them as well as raising them. He will tell us about new fish policy programs as well as update us on the fishery.
Tillamook Rainforest Coalition is a hot subject this season. There is a lot of talk about how much forest needs to be protected (and how) in order to maintain water quality as well as fishing and tourism. It is difficult to learn all the important variables with this issue, and Steelheaders are studying them.
Mill City and Gates have civic leaders taking a community development seminar sponsored by the Ford Foundation. The seminar is project and team oriented, so many local improvements may result from this work. Local leaders are looking for good ideas about improving the community, and will welcome comments about making the towns and river a better place to live or visit.
Thanksgiving is coming up, and that’s when winter steelhead start coming in the coastal rivers and the lower Willamette. Sixteen early winter fish have already gone up Willamette Falls, but most of them are probably headed for the Little North Fork. There are enough summer steelhead that are still in good condition so that we have good sporting opportunities whenever the weather allows.
The Sandy River certainly has a lot of coho! With the low water two weeks ago, the silver salmon could not swim up Cedar Creek to the hatchery and volunteers had to carry the adults several hundred yards up the hill. Steelheader volunteers went to look at the situation to see if they can help with rigging for the next low water situation, which will probably happen next September. More than one million coho are released here yearly, so it is an exciting fishery in September and October. Thanks to Art Israelson and Tyke Sherwood for looking at this situation.
The fish count at Willamette Falls is very important to all valley anglers. The website count has been updated recently for the first time in a while, and ODFW needs help with the counting. Several Steelheader chapters are located nearby, and some will probably be interested in helping with the counting and reporting. The information is available through the ODFW website, and it tells us fish counts as well as river conditions.
Fall Chinook fishing has been good in bays and lower rivers. More rain is predicted, so they will move into the lower rivers.
The North Santiam is great for whitewater and summer steelhead, and there are many other great rivers not far away. Oregon is quite a fishery.
Bill Sanderson
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Bill Sanderson
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