Friends of the Cowlitz, Fish Restoration, Habitat Restoration SW Washington

Friends of the Cowlitz was formed in 1988 by a group of concerned individuals who had watched the runs of salmon and steelhead become smaller and smaller each year after the hydroelectric dams were constructed by the City of Tacoma.

At the time Friends of the Cowlitz was formed, it was decided that the main goal of the organization would be to work to restore the runs of anadromous fish (salmon, steelhead and cutthroat trout) to the Cowlitz River and it’s tributaries. To accomplish this they would work to make Tacoma live up to it’s obligations that had been agreed to the in 1967 mitigation agreement between Tacoma and the Washington Departments of Fisheries and Game.

The goal of the restoration effort would be to see that an opportunity to harvest these returning fish by sport fishermen was available each and every year (for all species). As part of our over all goal, FOC also decided to work to restore anadromous fish to the watershed above the dams. This effort is ongoing at this time, with coho, spring chinook, steelhead and cutthroat trout all being released into the watershed above the dams. This has been possible because of FOC being able to work successfully with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Lewis County PUD and BPA.

We have worked hard to have a juvenile collection facility installed at Cowlitz Falls Dam where the juvenile salmon and steelhead are captured and then transported downstream by tank truck to the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery. At the Salmon Hatchery they are placed in stress relief ponds for a couple of days and then released into the Cowlitz River to continue their journey to the ocean.

Among our other goals that have evolved over the years has been our fish rearing projects. Our fish rearing started with a net pen in an old gravel pit below Interstate Highway 5 that was known locally as Wallace’s Pit. This endeavor was so successful with summer-run steelhead that some of the guides actually left the area around the Trout Hatchery to concentrate their efforts in the area out in front of our rearing facility. This portion of the river was and is known as the Vader Pump House drift.


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WOMEN IN WADERS CALENDAR and GUNS AND CAMO CALENDERS are in! You may order them by calling F.O.C office (360-864-2647) or Don at (360-985-2495) Cost $13.00 About Friends of the Cowlitz Friends of the Cowlitz was formed in 1988 by a group of concerned individuals who had watched the runs of salmon and steelhead become smaller and smaller each year after the hydroelectric dams were constructed by the City of Tacoma. At the time Friends of the Cowlitz was formed, it was decided that the main goal of the organization would be to work to restore the runs of anadromous fish (salmon, steelhead and cutthroat trout) to the Cowlitz River and it’s tributaries. To accomplish this they would work to make Tacoma live up to it’s obligations that had been agreed to the in 1967 mitigation agreement between Tacoma and the Washington Departments of Fisheries and Game. The goal of the restoration effort would be to see that an opportunity to harvest these returning fish by sport fishermen was available each and every year (for all species). As part of our over all goal, FOC also decided to work to restore anadromous fish to the watershed above the dams. This effort is ongoing at this time, with coho, spring chinook, steelhead and cutthroat trout all being released into the watershed above the dams. This has been possible because of FOC being able to work successfully with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Lewis County PUD and BPA. We have worked hard to have a juvenile collection facility installed at Cowlitz Falls Dam where the juvenile salmon and steelhead are captured and then transported downstream by tank truck to the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery. At the Salmon Hatchery they are placed in stress relief ponds for a couple of days and then released into the Cowlitz River to continue their journey to the ocean. Among our other goals that have evolved over the years has been our fish rearing projects. Our fish rearing started with a net pen in an old gravel pit below Interstate Highway 5 that was known locally as Wallace’s Pit. This endeavor was so successful with summer-run steelhead that some of the guides actually left the area around the Trout Hatchery to concentrate their efforts in the area out in front of our rearing facility. This portion of the river was and is known as the Vader Pump House drift.					PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
					I want to thank all the new members that have joined Friends Of The Cowlitz. There is A public meeting scheduled for March 18th in Morton to discuss Cowlitz fisheries plans. The meeting will be held at the Bob Lyle Community Center in Morton. The meeting will start at 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM. Please make time in your schedule to attend this meeting,it is very important. Our F.O.C. Banquet is April 24th at the Expo Center in Longview. Tickets are available at the F.O.C.office (360-864-2647) Barrier Dam Campground (360-985-2495) Bob's Merchandise in Longview (360-425-3870) and Four Corners in Kelso (360-274-8111) More info later.
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