Waterfowl enthusiasts told state officials this week they fear a proposed $13 million salmon restoration project at Shillapoo Wildlife Area will trade big losses of ducks and geese for marginal gains of fish.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife wants to reconnect the Columbia River with its floodplain on the south portion of the state wildlife area in the Vancouver Lake lowlands.
Two leeves to the Columbia River would be breached and channels created between wetlands to restore fish access. Water control structures and pumps would be removed.
Nicole Czarnomski, project coordinator for the Department of Fish and Wildlife, told a meeting in Vancouver Monday that the effort is part of a bistate, multi-agency effort to create more rearing habitat for juvenile salmon, particularly chinook.
Bonneville Power Administration would finance the project.
The project would improve Shillapoo Wildlife Area for fish, while still providing habitat for waterfowl plus public hunting and other recreation, Czarnomski said.
“This project is a choice by the agency,’’ she said. “We’d like to support multiple species.’’
But the proposal was not well received by a room full of mostly duck and goose hunters. State officials were peppered with questions from a skeptical audience.
Czarnomski said duck harvest would probably be about the same after the project, although might shift more from divers to dabblers.
“I oppose this and I oppose it wholeheartedly,’’ said Kurt Snyder of the Washington Waterfowl Association. “Every area that you’ve turned tidal has gone to hell for waterfowl…Every single one them without exception. What makes you think this is different?’’
A pump near Langsdorf Landing boat ramp lifts water into the Shillapoo area from December to June when Columbia River levels are high enough. The increase in water benefits waterfowl and makes for stable hunting conditions.
The pump would be removed. Water levels in Shillapoo would vary, depending on the Columbia River. But the direct connection with the river would allow for juvenile salmon to move in and out.
“Variability is what we’re introducing here,’’ Czarnomski said.
Some at Monday night’s meeting worried how that variability would affect nesting waterfowl plus whitetail deer in the area.
“You call it restoration, but it isn’t truly a restoration,’’ said Jon McAninch of Grays Harbor. “I’m all for salmon enhancement, but I’m against it when it’s to the detriment of other species we’ve built up…You displace ducks in enough places and you have loss of population.’’
Czarnomski said the project is still in the concept stage.
Alex Uber, a Department of Fish and Wildlife engineer, said there will be an official National Environmental Policy Act comment period this winter on the proposal.
The earliest much work would be done on the project is 2018, Czarnomski said.
She said the department will keep Shillapoo a high-priority spot for fish and wildlife.
“We’re building a long-term commitment with BPA,’’ she said. “We’re not going to walk away.’’
