Since 1982, coho have been planted annually into the yakima basin except for 1984

The Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation will receive $435,198 under a Cooperative Agreement award from the Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to support the Columbia River Fisheries Development Program. The Yakama Nation will rear and release approximately 700,000-1,500,000 yearling coho salmon from acclimation sites located in the Yakima River Basin between October 1, 2022 and September 30, 2023. The goals are to improve survival rates of transported fish and contribute to terminal fisheries while transitioning to restoration of extirpated natural coho populations in the basin by strategically acclimating fish in natural production areas. The award will support the Yakama Nation in delivering on the objectives of the Columbia River Fisheries Development Program to protect and enhance salmon and steelhead resources in the Columbia River Basin.

Between 700,000 and 1,500,000 US. V oregon yearling coho are transported from lower columbia river hatcheries for release each spring. In order to improve survival of coho transported into the basin for release, the yakama nation proposes to rear and release these fish from strategic acclimation sites located in the yakima river basin. One of the objective of these releases is contributing to a terminal fishery. Another objective is using this stock of coho to transition to restoring extirpated natural coho populations in the basin. As a result of this restoration goal, release locations are changing in order to strategically acclimate the coho in natural production areas.