Effects of 2015 Drought

The early numbers are in and it's clear that coho, chinook and pink salmon returns are sparse. The pinks, a two-year fish, are particularly suffering with a return estimated at only 1.15 million. For perspective, that is roughly an 80% reduction from the 10-year average. This is on top of some unfavorable ocean conditions that produced plenty of small fish in the 2015 run. From all signs at this time, we are going to have plenty of water for the few fish that return to reach their normal spawning habitat. Same goes for the coho and chinook so the three species won't be using the same territory as they were forced to do in the 2015 low water.