The Columbia River fall Chinook run predictions are looking good, with the upriver bright return forecast to be the fourth largest since 1964. Around 353,500 upriver bright fall Chinook are expected to return to the mouth of the river. Last year, morethan 325,000 of the fish returned. Overall, more than 650,000 fall Chinook are expected to return to the river, including upriver and lower river stocks, which is close to the actual returns in 2011 and 2010. More than 16,000 lower river wild fall Chinook are expected, just higher than last year's actual return of 15,200. That's great news, said Cindy LeFleur, Columbia River policy coordinator for Washington's Department of Fish and Wildlife. "I'm expecting salmon fisheries to look a lot like last year," said LeFleur. "We had some great fishing in 2011, especially for fall Chinook in the mainstem upstream of Buoy 10. Anglers fishing that section caught a record 28,300 Chinook last season." In Washington, budget woes have hit WDFW hard over the past three years, with a reduced staff having an impact on fisheries management. State general fund money for the department has been trimmed by more than $38 million since 2009. Phil Anderson, WDFW director, said protecting and restoring weak wild salmon populations is still the most critical part of the work they do as fishery managers while developing salmon seasons.
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