June 12, 2025 3:30 a.m.
Coastal Senate and House Republicans are urging the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Commission to keep the chinook salmon fishing season open on the Umpqua River.
A release from State Senator Dick Anderson of Lincoln City said while ODFW is anticipating a good fall fishing season for Chinook and Coho in most coastal basins, some lawmakers are growing concerned about the potential for the Chinook salmon fishing to be heavily restricted on the Umpqua River for the 2025 season. ODFW’s abundance estimates for 2024 show an alarming return of just 1,318 – well under the projected return of 3,360 and the lowest on record.
Given these concerning return rates, the ODFW Commission is anticipating public input this Friday on a potential to halt Chinook salmon fishing throughout much of the Umpqua River in an effort to help the population rebound. Under the proposal, bank fishing for hatchery Chinook would remain open below Highway 101.
Senator Anderson along with State Senator David Brock Smith of Port Orford, Representative Boomer Wright of Reedsport and Representative Virgle Osborne of Roseburg have issued a joint statement urging the Commission to take into consideration the impact a halt to Chinook salmon fishing would have on anglers, guides, small businesses, and all those who enjoy the Umpqua River from Roseburg to the Coast.
The lawmakers said, “Anglers, guides, and small business owners should not suffer due to the failed forest management and climate policies in Oregon by the majority party. When forest management is neglected and wildfires are allowed to burn, our forest canopies disappear, and water temperatures rises”. The statement continued, “These rising temperatures have an extreme negative impact on our rivers and salmon populations and benefit invasive species such as smallmouth bass that feed on them”. The lawmakers concluded; The unintended consequences of failed policies require a new direction. In the meantime, we trust the scientists at ODFW to help carve the best path forward in the short term that will balance a healthy Chinook salmon population with Oregon anglers, guides and communities who reply on it”.