Hatchery and Genetic Management Plans for Mitchell Act Hatchery Programs

NOAA Fisheries is inviting comments on four Hatchery and Genetic Management Plans (HGMPs). The HGMPs include the Big Creek Chum, Washougal winter steelhead (Skamania stock), Grays River Tule conservation, and the Abernathy Tule conservation programs. The Big Creek chum program was submitted by ODFW and has a prior 4(d) authorization. This HGMP is proposing a new goal of releasing 1,690,000 chum salmon. WDFW submitted three HGMPs for conservation hatchery programs (Washougal winter steelhead, Grays River Tule, and Abernathy Tule).

All HGMPs are designed to aid in conserving salmon and steelhead hatchery programs populations across the Evolutionary Significant Unit and/or Distinct Population Segment ranges. The programs use adaptive management procedures and the best available science to reduce adverse genetic effects and lessen competition and predation impacts typically associated with hatchery programs.

Comments

NOAA Fisheries is requesting public comments on the HGMPs for 30 days. The public comment can be submitted to hatcheries.public.comment@noaa.gov with a subject line of “Four HGMPs for Mitchell Act hatchery programs” through June 6, 2025. If you have any questions, please contact Natasha Preston at natasha.preston@noaa.gov.

Hatchery and Genetics Management Plans

• Big Creek Chum
• Washougal Late-Winter Steelhead - Skamania Hatchery (Integrated)
• Grays River Fall Chinook Conservation Program (Beaver Creek Hatchery, Elochoman River)
• Abernathy Creek Fall Chinook Conservation Program