Kokanee Decline

Through 1985, the annual angling harvest of kokanee salmon often exceded 100,000 fish. By 1988-89, there were no reported catches.

Collapse of the kokanee population also affected bird and mammal populations along the river. Migrating bald eagles disappeared from the area after using the abundant spawning kokanee resource for more than fifty years. The disappearance of the kokanee also affected gull and duck populations in the upper drainage as well as coyotes, otters and grizzly bears.

For more information see: Spencer, C.N, Riley McClelland, and Jack Stanford, 1991. Shrimp Stocking, Salmon Collapse, and Eagle Displacement. BioScience Vol. 41 No. 1