Grant Approved for Study of Steelhead Recycling in the Cowlitz

A new $140,000 grant has been approved for a steelhead recycling study in the lower Cowlitz River. The goal of the study is to improve angling on the popular tributary of Washington’s Columbia River. The money will be generated from a $8.25 fee anglers pay to fish the Columbia and its tributaries.

Previously, summer steelhead were recycled to the lower Cowlitz in order to give anglers another chance at catching fish, but the practice was ended over concerns that non-native hatchery steelhead caused negative effects on native steelhead that spawn in river.

The grant money will pay for both radio and visual tags for fish to be released in the lower Cowlitz. Their movement will be monitored by telemetry stations.