On Feb. 19 the Native Fish Society and The McKenzie Flyfishers filed a request in Oregon’s U.S. District Court asking for a temporary restraining order and/or preliminary injunction that forbids the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife from setting hatchery smolts free in the Sandy or its tributaries this spring.
The state of Oregon NOAA Fisheries, joined by three sport fishing organizations, say that the operation of northwest Oregon’s Sandy Hatchery under newly approved federal guidelines is legal and does not jeopardize wild salmon and steelhead protected under the Endangered Act.
It all goes in front of the judge on Wednesday.
Who are the three sportfishing groups going to bat for hatchery fish along with the state and the feds?
The Association of Northwest Steelheaders