The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Irrigon and Umatilla hatcheries are closed to the public until July 15 during a major renovation of the super structure used to keep predators out of the outside raceways.
According to ODFW hatchery manager Marc Garst, the renovation will have no impact on hatchery production. Thanks to the final release of fall chinook on May 18, most of the outside raceways are empty, he said.
However, in order to complete the necessary renovation, the guard rails around all the raceways will be temporarily removed creating a risk to public safety. The closures went into effect on May 25.
The predator control super structure consists of 15 to 20-foot beams from which netting is hung to keep raptors, herons, minks, otters and other fish predators out of the raceways.
