Record-breaking sockeye year in North Central Washington
This year proved to be exciting for sockeye in North Central Washington, with record numbers making their way upriver. So far this year, 190,117 sockeye were counted at Tumwater Dam on the Wenatchee River. This surpasses the previous record by 73,723 fish and is nearly double the preseason forecast of 97,000.
Records at the Chelan Public Utility District facility along Highway 2 west of Leavenworth go back to 1999 when only 1,172 fish were counted. The previous high mark of 110,693 was set just two years ago.
Wenatchee sockeye are part of the broader Columbia River run. These fish typically arrive later and are older, at four to five years old, compared to their counterparts heading to the Okanogan River. Bonneville Dam, the first dam on the Columbia River above the Pacific, also set a new sockeye record this year with 755,203 fish counted — 92,000 more than the previous record.
- Disclaimer: fish counts are preliminary and will be final by the end of 2024.
The White River has long been a vital spawning ground for sockeye, and this year was no exception. Thanks in part to improved river conditions and effective habitat restoration efforts, sockeye are returning in significant numbers to this pristine alpine river. The cool waters of the White River provide ideal conditions for the fish to complete their life cycle, and ongoing conservation measures aim to preserve this critical habitat for future generations of salmon.
The increase of sockeye in the White River underscores the importance of continued efforts to protect and restore key watersheds within the Columbia Basin.
“The strong sockeye returns have allowed for increased fishing opportunities, and with such promising numbers, the future looks bright for sockeye salmon in the region. It’s an exciting time for our community,” said Chad Jackson, WDFW’s North Central Region fish program manager.
While the sockeye numbers are cause for celebration, it’s not all positive news on the Wenatchee River. The planned summer Chinook season on the river was not able to open, as hatchery and natural-origin king returns are expected to fall short of broodstock and escapement goals.
Escapement figures (the number of adult fish that return to a stream or hatchery to spawn after avoiding being caught in fisheries) in the Upper Columbia Basin have also been unprecedented this year. As of early August, the sockeye counts at Tumwater Dam on the Wenatchee River reached a total of more than 175,000 fish, surpassing the previous record from 2022 by nearly 26,000 fish. These figures represent roughly eight times the spawning escapement goal for the Wenatchee watershed, highlighting the population’s resilience.
At Bonneville Dam on the Lower Columbia River, a new record was set with more than 755,000 sockeye counted, which likely influenced the Upper Columbia escapement success. Factors contributing to this abundance include favorable ocean conditions and high river flows during the fish’s juvenile stage, which supported survival through reduced predation and quicker migration to the ocean. However, rising river temperatures have raised concerns, especially in tributaries like the Okanogan River, where some fish face thermal barriers that could threaten future escapement goals without continued adaptive management efforts.
Still, for those who love good salmon news, 2024 turned out to be an exciting year for sockeye in North Central Washington.
Learn more about fisheries management here on our webpage.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife works to preserve, protect, and perpetuate fish, wildlife and ecosystems while providing sustainable fish and wildlife recreational and commercial opportunities.
