Our Concern
There is now irrefutable proof that hatcheries cause harm to wild fish. Recent studies find that steelhead born of hatchery parents in the wild might produce only one-eighth to one-third of the offspring that two breeding wild fish would.
Said another way: Hatchery fish are actually reducing the population of wild fish. To prevent this from worsening, the Native Fish Society filed a lawsuit against the Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife and the National Marine Fisheries Service for its management of the Sandy River hatchery. Wild salmon and steelhead in the Sandy are protected under the ESA, and Oregon law mandates that ODFW implement plans that decrease the adverse impacts of hatchery programs.
Video: Save Sandy Salmon
Backgrounders
Briefing from Arlen Thomason, the board representative from our co-plaintiff the McKenzie Flyfishers
Hatchery Impact on Wild Salmonids
Sandy River Hatchery Problems and Solutions
Expert Witness Declarations
Jim Licatowich, ODFW Supervisor of Fisheries Research 1979-1983 and Assistant Chief of Fisheries 1983-1988.
Chris Frissell, Ph D. Fisheries Science
Gordon Luikart, Ph.D. Salmonid Genetics
ESA Documents Under Review
Sandy Hatchery Biological Opinion (September 26, 2012)
Federal Register Notice of Public Comment Period (December 10, 2013)
New Draft Sandy River Hatchery Genetic Management Plans Under Review (HGMPs)
HGMP for Summer Steelhead (November 6, 2013)
HGMP for Winter Steelhead (October 18, 2013)
HGMP for Spring Chinook (November 6, 2013)
HGMP for Coho (November 6, 2013)
Comparison between old and new Summer Steelhead HGMPs
Comparison between old and new Winter Steelhead HGMPs
Comparison between old and new Spring Chinook HGMPs
Comparison between old and new Coho HGMPs
Native Fish Society Comments on Sandy River Environmental Assessment (EA) and Hatchery Genetic Management Plans (HGMPs) (July 9, 2012)
Legal Documents
Opinion on Summary Judgement (January 17, 2014)
Native Fish Society Reply in Support of Partial Summary Judgement (October 17, 2013)
Native Fish Society Memorandum in Support of Partial Summary Judgement (August 16, 2013)
Court's Opinion on Preliminary Injunction (May 16, 2013)
Native Fish Society Reply in Support of Preliminary Injunction (March 15, 2013)
Native Fish Society Memorandum in Support of Preliminary Injunction (February 19,2013)
Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief (March 9, 2012)
Sandy River 60 Day Notice (April 13, 2011)
Press Releases
Victory for wild fish on the Sandy River (January 17, 2014)
Judge Sides with Wild Fish (March 26, 2013)
Sandy Press Release (April 14, 2011)
News
Oregonian, "Judge allows release of Sandy Hatchery salmon, but at a reduced level" (March 21, 2013)
Oregonian, "Oregon fish program caught in bind on Sandy, Clackamas rivers" (February 22, 2013)
Oregonian, " Protecting Wild Salmon, Steelhead from Hatchery Fish" (October 17, 2012)
Courthouse News Service, "Native Fish Society Fights Oregon Hatchery" (March 14, 2012)
Oregonian, "Fish groups stop going with the flow" (April 16, 2011)
Oregonian, "Wild fish, sustainable jobs" (April 7, 2011)