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pdfOregon Salmon and Steelhead Recovery
Your opinions are needed to inform policy decisions that affect salmon and steelhead fish
population management in Oregon. Please return your completed survey in the provided
postage-paid envelope.
Thank you for your help.
What do YOU think
should be done?
OMB Control No. 20xx-xxxx – Approval expires xx/xx/xx
WHAT THIS SURVEY IS ABOUT
This survey asks for your opinion on Willamette River watershed salmon & steelhead fisheries
management. Your household was chosen at random from a list of Oregon addresses to receive
this survey. Your responses will help authorities choose the best option. Some of the background
information is based on Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration sources, but this survey was written and sponsored by the
Environmental Protection Agency.
Fish Species
There are several species of salmon and steelhead trout in Oregon. These fish
live most of their lives in the ocean, but return to Oregon rivers and streams to
spawn. There are two kinds of fish: wild-origin fish, reproducing on their own;
and hatchery-origin fish, bred in fish hatcheries and released into rivers and
streams to provide fishing opportunities.
Location
This survey is about the salmon and steelhead in the Willamette River watershed
only, shown in the map on the next page. The Willamette River is the main river
passing through the most populated parts of Oregon, such as Eugene, Salem, and
Portland. Fish have to swim up the Columbia River and through Portland to get
to any part of the upper Willamette watershed. Major tributary rivers included in
the Willamette watershed recovery plan are the Clackamas, Molalla, North
Santiam, South Santiam, Calapooia, McKenzie, and Middle Fork Willamette
Rivers.
Current Population Numbers
Currently, the total number of wild-origin and hatchery-origin salmon and
steelhead returning to the Willamette River watershed to spawn is about 80,000
per year. For comparison, this is about 5% of the 1.6 million salmon and
steelhead returning to the rest of the Columbia River watershed.
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BACKGROUND INFORMATION
In the Willamette River watershed, about 75% of the returning salmon and steelhead are
hatchery-origin fish and about 25% are wild-origin fish.
Scientists believe that, historically, over 1 million wild-origin salmon and steelhead returned to
the Willamette watershed. Current wild-origin salmon and steelhead returns to the Willamette
are about 20,000 fish per year. This is less than 5% of estimated historical wild returns. The
combined effects of fish harvest, hatchery fish interactions, dams and flood control, and habitat
alterations have led to these declines.
Declining abundance and reductions in habitat provided the scientific evidence for Willamette
River Spring Chinook and Winter Steelhead to be listed as "Threatened" under the federal
Endangered Species Act. These listings occurred in 1999.
Willamette Basin of Oregon
Willamette watershed boundary
2
Wild Fish Background
Wild salmon and steelhead in the Willamette River watershed were listed as “Threatened”
under the Endangered Species Act in 1999. These fish are called Spring Chinook and Winter
Steelhead.
“Threatened” means the populations are not self-sustaining. Chinook have a 60% to 100%
chance of going extinct in the next 100 yrs.
These wild salmon and steelhead cannot be harvested by recreational or commercial anglers
in the Willamette watershed.
There are other Threatened or Endangered fish in Oregon. Another well-known example is
coastal Coho Salmon.
There are other Willamette watershed fisheries, such as sturgeon, a wild and native fish.
There are also non-native fish species that are self-sustaining in Oregon, such as large and
smallmouth bass.
There are other wild salmon and steelhead fisheries in Oregon, including Central Oregon,
Eastern Oregon, and the Coast Range.
There are other wild salmon and steelhead fisheries in Washington, Idaho, and California.
Chinook Salmon (King, Blackmouth, Tyee) average size is 10 - 15 lbs, and up to 135 lbs.
Steelhead (steelhead trout, sea-run rainbow trout) average 8 - 11 lbs, and up to 40 lbs
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Hatchery Fish Background
As noted on page 3, fish hatcheries produce the majority of the salmon and steelhead
that return to the Willamette River watershed. There are 33 fish hatcheries in Oregon,
and 7 fish hatcheries in the Willamette River watershed. The primary reason for Oregon
fish hatcheries is to replace losses in wild-origin fish.
Hatchery fish can be harvested. They are marked with a clipped fin so they can be
distinguished from wild fish. Wild-origin salmon and steelhead, however, cannot be
harvested in the Willamette watershed. Anglers who are mainly interested in harvest
therefore prefer salmon and steelhead from hatcheries.
Almost none of the salmon sold in Oregon stores and restaurants comes from the
Willamette watershed since it is such a small percentage of the West Coast salmon
fishery.
Hatcheries are not the same thing as privately or corporation-owned ‘fish farms’.
Hatcheries release fish into the wild, but farmed fish are bred and harvested in captivity.
Hatchery fish can crowd wild fish out of their habitat, so fish managers reduce impacts
on wild fish by releasing hatchery fish at times of the year and locations that minimize
interactions with wild fish.
Hatchery spring Chinook
salmon at Willamette
hatchery in Oakridge, Oregon
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THIS SURVEY WILL ASK YOU TO MAKE CHOICES ABOUT
WILLAMETTE WILD SALMON & STEELHEAD RECOVERY
Recovery would mean the wild populations would be self-sustaining. There would no
longer be a significant risk of extinction in the next 100 years for wild Willamette
watershed salmon and steelhead.
There is currently no legal harvest of wild-origin salmon and steelhead in the Willamette
watershed, so these wild fish tend to be important to people who like the idea of fish
populations being self-sustaining.
Hatchery fish are important to recreational anglers who want the opportunity to keep
fish they have caught. The voting questions do not consider any changes to hatcheries.
1. Before reading this survey were you aware that the salmon and steelhead in the
Willamette watershed were considered “Threatened” under the Endangered Species Act?
Yes
No
2. Before reading this survey were you aware that the state of Oregon has hatcheries for
salmon and steelhead?
Yes
No
3. Before reading this survey were you aware that most of the salmon and steelhead in the
Willamette watershed are hatchery-origin fish?
Yes
No
4. Do you regularly purchase an Oregon state fishing license?
Yes
No
5. Does anybody else in your household regularly purchase an Oregon state fishing license?
Yes
No
5
Paying for Programs to Recover Wild Salmon and Steelhead
Recovering spring Chinook and steelhead populations – and maintaining this recovery into
the future – requires a range of management strategies. Recovery programs being
considered would improve ecological conditions for salmon and steelhead.
People can aid salmon and steelhead recovery with good stewardship of land, using water
wisely, and implementing restoration projects to improve habitat conditions. All of these
cost money. The funding would come from a new permanent tax. This tax would be a
shared responsibility paid by all Oregonians. Money collected from the tax would be used to
implement programs that address the primary threats to fish recovery. Recovery programs
would be a collaborative effort between local, state, and federal organizations.
What additional recovery programs would do:
Improve conditions of the Willamette Basin for salmon and steelhead recovery. The
specific types of improvements will depend on the design of the program. Example
activities include:
Retrofit dams to allow fish to swim past them, using devices such as fish
ladders.
Collect returning fish in holding ponds below dams and truck them above the
dam.
Restoring floodplains and reconnecting side channels and wetlands.
Increasing stream flow by changing the schedule of water releases from dams.
Improving water quality by reducing pollution from urban and agricultural
areas.
Removing or replacing culverts and other structures that block fish passage.
What additional recovery programs would not do:
Affect salmon and steelhead populations outside the Willamette Basin.
Have a noticeable effect on the quality or price of seafood you buy.
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Willamette Wild Salmon and Steelhead Recovery Options
No Intervention
Willamette Spring Chinook and Winter Steelhead are both currently listed as
“Threatened” species. The risk of Spring Chinook going extinct in the next 100
years would remain between 60% and 100%.
Estimated returns currently total about 20,000 fish per year.
Catch-and-release fishing in the appropriate season, but wild fish may not be
kept.
Basic Recovery
This option would use tools listed on page 7 to create the conditions for more
wild fish to reproduce on their own. Willamette Spring Chinook and Winter
Steelhead would no longer be a “Threatened” species and there would not be a
significant risk of them going extinct in the next 100 years.
Estimated returns would be about 40,000 fish per year.
Catch-and-release fishing in the appropriate season, but wild fish may not be
kept.
High Recovery
This option would more intensively use the tools listed on page 7 to create the
conditions for more wild fish to reproduce on their own. Willamette Spring
Chinook and Winter Steelhead would no longer be a “Threatened” species and
there would not be a significant risk of them going extinct in the next 100
years.
Estimated returns would be about 70,000 fish per year.
Catch-and-release fishing in the appropriate season, but wild fish may not be
kept.
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High Recovery
70,000 fish & even
lower extinction risk
Basic Recovery
40,000 fish & low
extinction risk
No Recovery
20,000 fish & high
extinction risk
Time to Recovery
Today
Time to Recovery Options
Wild fish populations can recover sooner if the management tools listed on page 7 are used
more intensively. However, more intensive use of these tools is also more expensive.
If you select “No Intervention” – there is no “time to recovery”.
If you select an intervention, different proposed interventions have different times
to recovery:
o
o
o
15 years
25 years
50 years
8
The next question helps us understand your priorities for public
issues. As a society, we cannot afford to fix all policy problems, so
we have to decide upon priorities.
6. What are your personal relative priorities? (Click one box per row.)
Very
High
Priority
High
priority
Low
priority
Not a
priority
at all
Not sure
National security
Reducing poverty and hunger
Improving education
Improving food safety
Protecting endangered species
Reducing unemployment
Reducing violent crime
Improving drinking water safety
Improving health care
Improving air quality
Preventing climate change
Very
High
Priority
High
priority
9
Low
priority
Not a
priority
at all
Not sure
What do you think should be done about salmon and steelhead
management?
In a moment, you will be asked about which alternatives you think are the best. Public officials
will take the results of this survey into account when they choose among wild salmon and
steelhead management options.
Important instructions
In the questions that follow, we ask your opinion about different options for
managing wild salmon and steelhead in the Willamette watershed.
You will be asked three voting questions. In each question, you will vote for
the option you like best from the three alternatives.
Choosing the No Intervention option keeps the current conditions but does
not add new restoration activities.
Option A and Option B are different in each question, with different
outcomes and costs to your household.
An example question is shown on the next page.
Experience from other studies has shown that people tend to respond differently in a survey
than they would in real life, since they don’t actually have to follow through with their choices.
When voting we urge you to answer the questions as if you were really faced with these
decisions and the costs to your household would really go up if the management options were
implemented.
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An Example Question
In each question, you will be asked to vote on three options. (Mark one box at the bottom of
each question to indicate which option you prefer.)
Recovery outcomes
for each option are
listed here
Annual cost to your
household for each
option listed here
Recovery Outcome
No
Intervention
Wild
Salmon &
Steelhead Status
Threatened
(20,000 wild
fish returning
per year)
Time to Recovery
Salmon &
Steelhead
$
Annual Cost to
Your Household
(Permanent
increase to your
household starting
next year)
Your vote
Please mark one of the
boxes to the right
Option A
Option B
Basic Recovery
(40,000 wild
fish returning
per year)
High Recovery
(70,000 wild
fish returning
per year)
No Recovery
15 years
(time until wild
fish reach
recovery goal)
50 years
(time until wild
fish reach
recovery goal)
$0 every year
$120 every
year
(equivalent to
$10 per month)
$75 every year
(equivalent to
$6.25 per
month)
No Intervention
Option A
Option B
To vote for No Intervention
mark this box
To vote for Option A
mark this box
To vote for Option B
mark this box
When you vote on the next three questions, please remember:
Consider each question separately. Imagine that the options in that question
are the only options available to choose from.
Recovery options will not change restrictions on harvesting the restored wild
salmon and steelhead populations.
The recovery outcomes in each question are based on the best scientific
predictions available.
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7. Please vote for one of the three options below. (Mark one box at the bottom to indicate
which option you prefer).
Recovery Outcome
No Intervention
Wild
Salmon & Steelhead
Status
Threatened
(20,000 wild fish
returning per year)
Time to Recovery
Salmon & Steelhead
No Recovery
Option A
Option B
Basic Recovery
(40,000 wild fish
returning per year)
High Recovery
(70,000 wild fish
returning per year)
50 years
(time until wild fish
reach recovery goal)
50 years
(time until wild fish
reach recovery goal)
$40 every year
(equivalent to $3.33
per month)
$75 every year
(equivalent to $6.25
per month)
Option A
Option B
$
Annual Cost To Your
Household
(Permanent increase
to your household
starting next year)
$0 every year
No Intervention
Your Vote
Please mark one of the
boxes to the right
8. How certain are that you would actually make this choice on a scale of 0 to 10, where 0 is
“Very uncertain” and 10 is “Very certain”? Please circle one answer on this scale.
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
Very
uncertain
7
8
9
10
Very
certain
12
9. Please vote for one of the three options below. (Mark one box at the bottom to indicate
which option you prefer).
Recovery Outcome
No Intervention
Wild
Salmon & Steelhead
Status
Threatened
(20,000 wild fish
returning per year)
Time to Recovery
Salmon & Steelhead
No Recovery
Option A
Option B
Basic Recovery
(40,000 wild fish
returning per year)
High Recovery
(70,000 wild fish
returning per year)
50 years
(time until wild fish
reach recovery goal)
50 years
(time until wild fish
reach recovery goal)
$40 every year
(equivalent to $3.33
per month)
$75 every year
(equivalent to $6.25
per month)
Option A
Option B
$
Annual Cost To Your
Household
(Permanent increase
to your household
starting next year)
$0 every year
No Intervention
Your Vote
Please mark one of the
boxes to the right
10. How certain are that you would actually make this choice on a scale of 0 to 10, where 0 is
“Very uncertain” and 10 is “Very certain”? Please circle one answer on this scale.
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Very
certain
Very
uncertain
13
11. Please vote for one of the three options below. (Mark one box at the bottom to indicate
which option you prefer).
Recovery Outcome
No Intervention
Wild
Salmon & Steelhead
Status
Threatened
(20,000 wild fish
returning per year)
Time to Recovery
Salmon & Steelhead
No Recovery
Option A
Option B
Basic Recovery
(40,000 wild fish
returning per year)
High Recovery
(70,000 wild fish
returning per year)
50 years
(time until wild fish
reach recovery goal)
50 years
(time until wild fish
reach recovery goal)
$40 every year
(equivalent to $3.33
per month)
$75 every year
(equivalent to $6.25
per month)
Option A
Option B
$
Annual Cost To Your
Household
(Permanent increase
to your household
starting next year)
$0 every year
No Intervention
Your Vote
Please mark one of the
boxes to the right
12. How certain are that you would actually make this choice on a scale of 0 to 10, where 0 is
“Very uncertain” and 10 is “Very certain”? Please circle one answer on this scale.
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
Very
uncertain
7
8
9
10
Very
certain
14
13. Thinking about the choices you made in the previous voting questions, how much do you
agree or disagree that the following statements? (Please circle one number for each
statement.)
Strongly
Disagree
My choices would have been different if the
economy in my area were better.
It is important to restore Willamette basin
salmon and steelhead, no matter how much it
costs.
The descriptions in the recovery plan were
hard to understand.
Salmon and steelhead recovery is important,
but I do not believe that the recovery options
will actually increase the number of fish as
described.
Recovery options were not worth their costs
to my household.
The changes offered by the plans happen too
far into the future for me to really care.
Recovery program should be paid by
commercial and recreational anglers rather
than by all Oregon residents.
Salmon and steelhead recovery is not that
important to me..
Environmental conditions besides fish were
important factors in my decision.
Somebody else should pay
Strongly
Agree
Neutral
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
14. To what extent do you believe that the results of this survey, based on your answers and
the answers of other respondents, will be taken into consideration by policy makers? (Please
circle one number.)
Definitely not
taken in account
1
Unsure
2
3
15
4
Definitely taken
into account
5
15. Thinking about the choices you made in the previous voting questions, how much do you
agree or disagree with the following statements? (Please circle one number for each
statement.)
Strongly
Disagree
I chose as if my household would actually face
the costs shown in the questions.
I voted for a recovery plan option because I
thought it would increase the chances that
the government would do the same thing in
rivers basins closer to my home.
It is important to restore wild salmon and
steelhead no matter how much it costs.
I should not have to pay for wild salmon and
steelhead recovery.
I voted for a recovery plan option more for
future generations than myself.
Recovery should be funded with existing
taxes.
I prefer to make a voluntary donation than to
increase taxes.
I cannot afford to help pay for these programs
I think wild salmon and steelhead recovery
would happen too far in the future to be
worthwhile.
The government should be involved in
regulating the activities of people and
businesses, in order to protect or improve the
environment.
Background information in the survey was fair
and unbiased.
16
Strongly
Agree
Neutral
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
1
1
2
2
3
3
4
4
5
5
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
Questions about your activities on lakes, rivers, and streams in the
Willamette basin
The following questions will ask you about single-day trips you have taken to visit a lake, river, or
stream in the Willamette basin. By single-day trips, we mean visits where you traveled at least
15 minutes from home, but did not spend the night away. This includes short trips within your
community, and longer trips that take several hours or an entire day.
16. In the last 12 months, how many single-day trips did you take to visit a lake, stream, or
river in the Willamette basin for recreational purposes?
(Please circle one number.)
0
1
2
3
4
If more than 4, write in
number of trips:
Don’t know how many
trips I took in the past
12 months
__________
17. If you did visit one or more lake, stream, or river in the Willamette basin in the last 12
months, which site did you visit most often? (Fill in as much information as you can).
17a. Name of site _______________________________________________________
17b. How long did it take you to drive there from your home?
_________ hours and _________ minutes
17c. What is the nearest town to that site? ___________________________________
17d. What did you do on your visit(s) to that site? (Check all activities you did on your
visits)
Fishing
Swimming or playing in the water
Boating, canoeing or kayaking
Camping
Hunting
Hiking, walking, or running
Bird watching or wildlife viewing
17
Other _____________________
18. On these single-day trips in the last 12 months, who normally went with you?
No one, I usually went alone
1 or more other adults, but no children
1 or more other people, including children
19. In the past 12 months, which of the following lakes, rivers, or streams did you visit? (Please
check all that you have visited and write in the number of visits in the past 12 months).
An example __2_Blue River Lake
______Willamette River within Portland
______Coast Fork Willamette
______Tualtin River
______North Fork Yamhill River
______Mollala River
______North Santiam River
______Calapooia River
______Long Tom River
______Breitenbush River
______Quartzville Creek
______Hills Creek
`
______Detroit Lake
______Dexter Lake
______Fall Creek
______Foster Lake
______Hills Creek Lake
______Big Cliff Lake
______North Fork Lake (Clackamas)
______Lookout Point Lake
______Other ___________________
______Willamette River outside of Portland
______Middle Fork Willamette
______McKenzie River
______South Fork Yamhill
______Clackamas River
______South Santiam River
______Mary’s River
______Luckiamute River
______Eagle Creek
______Pudding River `
______Cougar Lake
______Clear Lake
______Dorena Lake
______Fern Ridge Lake
______Green Peter Lake
______Blue River Lake
______Leaburg Lake
______Cottage Grove Lake
______Other ___________________
______Other ___________________
18
The Next Questions Ask You About Your Views On Hatchery-origin
and Wild-origin Salmon and Steelhead in the Willamette Basin
It is possible that a large reduction in the number of hatchery salmon and steelhead in the
Willamette watershed might be required to meet wild salmon and steelhead recovery goals.
These reductions may be needed to reduce competition between hatchery and wild fish for
resources and habitat. Reductions in the number of hatchery fish in the Willamette watershed
would mean fewer salmon and steelhead available for recreational anglers to catch and bring
home.
20. Would your household support a large reduction in hatchery salmon and steelhead in the
Willamette watershed if it would help to achieve wild salmon and steelhead recovery?
(Please circle one number.)
Definitely
would not
support
1
Definitely
would
support
Unsure
2
3
4
5
21. How much do you agree or disagree with the following statements about wild-origin and
hatchery-origin salmon and steelhead? (Please circle one number for each statement.)
Strongly
Disagree
A wild-origin fish population is more valuable
to me than a population of hatchery fish
because its presence indicates a wellfunctioning, healthy watershed.
Oregon salmon and steelhead populations
need to be managed so they support harvest.
The recreation opportunity provided by
hatchery-origin fish is more important than
having sustainable wild, but not harvestable
populations.
19
Strongly
Agree
Neutral
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
About you and your household
To finish, we have some questions about you for statistical purposes only. Please be assured
that all of your answers will remain completely confidential. We ask these questions so that we
can determine how the socio
22: What is your sex? Male
Female
23: What is your age? _________ years old
24: How many children under age 18 are living in your home? ________ children
25: Does anyone in your household belong to an environmental organization (such as
the Sierra Club, or National Audubon Society)?
Yes
No
Don’t Know
26: In 2013, what was your total pre-tax household income, including all earners
in your household?
Under $25,000
$25,000 to $49,999
$50,000 to $74,999
$75,000 to $99,999
$100,000 to $149,999
$150,000 to $199,999
Above $200,000
Note: Please answer BOTH Questions 24 about Hispanic origin and Question 25. For
this survey, Hispanic origins are not races.
27: Are you of Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin?:
Yes
No
I prefer not to answer
28. What is your race? (You may select more than one.)
American Indian or Alaska Native
Black or African American
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
Black/African American
20
Asian Indian
White
Asian
Some other race
29. What is the highest degree or level of school you have completed?
Less than high school
Associate’s degree
High school or GED
Bachelor’s degree
Some college (1-4 years, no degree)
Graduate degree
30. Have you or any member of your household ever worked for any of the following
industries or jobs? (Please check all that apply)
Commercial fishing
Farming
Dam operations
Electric power generation
Commercial timber
River or fishing guiding
31. Would you say that you and your household are better off, just about the same, or worse
off financially than you were a year ago?
We are better off
We are just about the same
We are worse off
32. Looking ahead, do you think that a year from now you and your family will be financially
better off, just about the same, or worse off finically?
We will be better off
We will be just about the same
We will be worse off
Thank you! You have completed the survey.
Please return the survey in the provided postage-paid envelope.
21
Thank you again for providing us with your views. Your input is
very important.
If you have any additional thoughts or comments about any of the topics or the survey itself,
please share them here.
If you have any questions, please call 541-754-4703 or email papenfus.michael@epa.gov
The public reporting and recordkeeping burden for this collection of information is estimated to
average 30 minutes per response. Send comments on the Agency's need for this information, the
accuracy of the provided burden estimates, and any suggested methods for minimizing
respondent burden, including through the use of automated collection techniques to the
Director, Collection Strategies Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (2822T), 1200
Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, D.C. 20460. Include the OMB control number in any
correspondence. Do not send the completed survey to this address.
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| File Type | application/pdf |
| Author | Papenfus, Michael |
| File Modified | 2014-10-02 |
| File Created | 2014-10-02 |