ODFW amends Columbia, Gilbert river sturgeon seasons

CLACKAMAS, Ore. – The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife has amended white sturgeon seasons on the Columbia and Gilbert rivers to make them more consistent with other regulations.

Effective July 5, sturgeon retention seasons for the Gilbert River will be concurrent with the lower Willamette River and Multnomah Channel. The Gilbert River originates at Sturgeon Lake on Sauvie Island near Portland and flows approximately four miles to its confluence with the Multnomah Channel. The Willamette River below Willamette Falls and the entire Multnomah Channel are closed to sturgeon retention until Nov. 1 when the season is scheduled to reopen on Thursday, Fridays, and Saturdays through the end of the year.

Effective Aug. 1, sturgeon retention will be closed on the Columbia River from McNary Dam near Hermiston approximately 15 miles upstream to the Oregon/Washington border. This change was enacted to make Oregon’s regulations consistent with Washington’s since both states are responsible for managing Columbia River fisheries. This area is scheduled to reopen to sturgeon retention for six months beginning February 1, 2011.

“These are basically administrative changes that we plan to incorporate into the 2011 permanent regulations to make them more consistent,” said John North, manager of ODFW’s Columbia River Fisheries Program.

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