Please note: This is a Sole Source Notification. Lower Columbia River chum salmon’s current distribution is very limited, mostly in Washington, with 99% of the annual adult return concentrated in only three populations/areas: the Grays River, the Washougal (although these adults spawn in the mainstem Columbia River), and the lower Gorge (combination of spawning in the mainstem and tributaries of the Columbia River near Bonneville Dam). The combined recent 10-year average adult return for these three populations is less than 14,500 adults. Outside of these remaining three viable populations, average annual returns are estimated to range from zero to less than 100 adults annually. This includes the Cowlitz population, which historically would have had a huge component of the return, likely numbering in the tens of thousands of adults annually. Section 3.2.4 (page 3-31) of the LCR salmon recovery plan from the Lower Columbia Fish Recovery Board states "Chum habitats have been reduced by 75% or more for the majority of the populations by changes or loss of low elevation reaches and off-channel areas due to channel stabilization, loss of floodplain connectivity and function, and sedimentation due to land use activities throughout the entire watershed." This statement is especially true in the areas of the Cowlitz River basin that chum salmon would utilize (high quality protected off and side channel habitat). Additionally, there is a hydropower/flow regulation component on the river further reducing the creation of the productive side- and off-channel spawning habitat types that chum salmon prefer/need. This work will assess the existing chum salmon spawning ground habitat in the Cowlitz River by gathering existing population information, identify population specific limiting factors, conduct habitat evaluations, and provide recommendations to improve existing and/ or create new chum spawning habitat (chum spawning channel). The contract with Interfluve is necessary to evaluate this need. evaluations, and provide recommendations to improve existing and/ or create new chum spawning habitat (chum spawning channel).
