In Oregon, a tanker truck filled with over 100,000 young chinook salmon crashed, spilling its precious cargo into a river instead of onto the highway. The fish were being transported from the Lookingglass Hatchery to the Imnaha River to boost fish stocks in the area. The crash resulted in the loss of over 25,000 salmon, with the remaining fish finding a new home in the Lookingglass Creek. Experts predict that the fish will return to the creek to breed each year, ultimately improving fish population in that river.
The tanker crash occurred when the truck rolled onto its side, skidded across the pavement, and flipped onto its roof after hitting a rocky embankment. The tanker split open, releasing an estimated 77,000 smolts (two-year-old fish) into the creek. While more than 25,000 fish were found dead following the crash, the surviving 25,000 will likely produce 350-700 additional adult fish in the creek. Despite the loss of fish, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) remains optimistic about their ability to maintain full production goals in the future.
The crash had significant implications for the fish population in the Imnaha River, which is listed as threatened by ODFW. The agency estimates that the loss of smolts will result in 500-900 fewer adult fish returning to the river in the coming years. However, the unexpected release of salmon into the Lookingglass Creek provides an opportunity for population growth in that river instead. The fish are expected to return to the creek for breeding, ultimately bolstering fish stocks in the area.
ODFW expressed gratitude that the employee driving the truck was not seriously injured in the crash. The agency remains committed to their conservation efforts and is optimistic about their ability to collect future brood stock and meet production goals in the future. While the tanker crash resulted in a significant loss of fish, it also presented a unique opportunity for the fish to find a new home in the Lookingglass Creek, ultimately benefiting the local fish population. Despite the challenges posed by the crash, ODFW remains dedicated to their mission of preserving and enhancing fish populations in Oregon.
