SAPPHO — At least two tribes on the North Olympic Peninsula are opposed to closing the state-run Sol Duc River hatchery.
The Lower Elwha Klallam tribe believes the proposed closure would be detrimental to recovery of the Elwha River chinook, listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.
“Closing that hatchery would severely limit our chances of recovering these amazing fish,” said Lower Elwha Fisheries Manager Pat Crain.
The Sol Duc hatchery was tagged for closure last fall after Gov. Gary Locke asked all state agencies to cut general-fund spending by 15 percent.
If the facility were to close, the state Department of Fish and Wildlife would have to come up with a different location for raising Elwha chinook.
Every year, the department captures hundreds of Elwha kings and spawns them at the Elwha rearing channels.
Up to 4 million eggs are then transferred to Sol Duc, where they are hatched and raised until pre-smolt stage before being moved back to Elwha for final preparation for release.
The department initially offered no alternative for Sol Duc operations.
However, because of the threatened listing, federal law required that the Elwha chinook program be continued.
