During my May 25, 2011 fishing trip, we talked about restoration efforts in the Clackamas Basin. I thought that the Clackamas produced more salmon and steelhead historically than any other part of the Willamette system. Livingston Stone of the U.S. Fish Commission thought the same thing when he was evaluating potential hatchery sites in 1877. He said, “probably no tributary of the Columbia has abounded so profusely with salmon in past years as this river.” This suggested to me that we should be putting more effort into restoration of the Clackamas than some of the other rivers.
All the guys agreed about the importance and size of the Clackamas runs, noting that since the mouth is below the Falls at Oregon City, it has runs of spring Chinook, fall Chinook, winter steelhead and coho with fish in the river throughout the year. But they were quick to emphasize the importance of the small tributary streams all along the Clackamas and the mainstem Willamette. Bob said he thinks they act like rest areas for the fish as they go out to sea and come back. The whole chain needs to be healthy for the runs to thrive.
I asked what the other threats were to the health of the river. Riz immediately said invasive species. By then we were near his house fishing another hole. He described exactly where the summer steelhead lie just off a ledge and when to fish for them with flies. And he pointed out all of the knotweed and scotch broom along the shore, explaining how hard it is to get rid of the knotweed and its impact on native species. Some may wonder about the connection between invasive species and river restoration, but as we learn more about the nutrient cycle between the fish and the riparian habitat, Riz’s comment makes a lot of sense.
The major water quality issues are municipal wastewater discharges and agricultural runoff, especially in Deep Creek. Only an eighth of the entire basin is agricultural, mostly nursery stock, Christmas trees and livestock. Past timber harvest had an impact by raising temperatures on the tributaries. The big challenge could be municipal water diversions, although most of them are near Oregon City. Ten percent of Oregon’s population already gets its water from the Clackamas and that could grow. If all of the municipal rights were developed, they worry that the river could be dewatered. Irrigation is less of a threat due to the return flows.
Bill asked what had happened to the old gravel operations along the river, specifically the “gravel hole.” Bob and Doug said that it is restoring itself with the river capturing the old pit. I wonder how much gravel mining there still is and what is happening to all the reclaimed areas.
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