|
August 15, 2012
ONATRIO, Ore. – Biologists from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife will be sampling on the Owyhee River from Tuesday, Aug. 21 through Thursday, Aug. 23.
Agency personnel will be electrofishing the river between the work camp bridge downstream to the Snively low water crossing (upstream of the hot springs). During the sampling, fish will be stunned and netted so biologists can record the size, condition and abundance of both brown and rainbow trout. The fish are then released unharmed. Fishing is likely to be adversely affected in the portion of the river being sampled but the remainder of the river will be unaffected.
According to Ray Perkins, ODFW fish biologist in Ontario, biologists will compare the population data collected next week to similar data collected in the late-1990s and early-2000s in order to assess population trends.
“I think a healthy population would include many different size groups of brown trout – 8 to 12 inches, 14 to 18 inches and a few over 20-inches – as well as fair to good numbers of rainbow trout,” he said. |
