Sturgeon spawning a bust in Columbia Gorge reservoirs

CLACKAMAS, Ore. — Researchers found no evidence of any successful spawning by sturgeon in 2015 in the Bonneville, The Dalles and John Day pools of the Columbia River Gorge.

“We did not find a single young-of-the-year,’’ said Tucker Jones, a biologist for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. “There was no recruitment above Bonneville and low recruitment below Bonneville and Willamette Falls.’’

Warm and low streamflows in the Columbia River in the hot and dry summer of 2015 most likely is the cause, he said.

“You need about 250,000 cubic feet per second out of McNary Dam to see recruitment (successful spawning) in all three of those pools,’’ Jones told the Columbia River Recreation Advisor Group in December.

Sturgeon spawn in the fast water immediately downstream of the three dams, plus just downstream of Willamette Falls in the Willamette River.

Bonneville pool has a sturgeon overall population of 200,000 to 300,000, he said.

The Dalles’ population is about 100,000 sturgeon, while John Day pool has 35,000 to 40,000.

Angling to resume — Sturgeon retention in the three pools will resume on Jan. 1.

A joint state hearing, initially planned for this week to set a split season in the Bonneville pool, was cancelled.

A decision on when to close the early portion of the Bonneville pool season is expected in late January.

Catches typically are very slow in January and February in the pools.