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Cooler water ends threat to Mid-Columbia sturgeon

Tri-City Herald
At least 80 sturgeon died in the Mid-Columbia this year, washing up along the shores of the Columbia River in the Tri-Cities.
At least 80 sturgeon died in the Mid-Columbia this year, washing up along the shores of the Columbia River in the Tri-Cities. Bob Brawdy Tri-City Herald

Columbia River water temperatures are back to normal, ending the warm-water conditions that killed more than 80 sturgeon this summer.

Many of the fish died in the Mid-Columbia, with fish more than five feet long washing up along the shores of the Columbia River in the Tri-Cities.

Starting Tuesday, anglers can again fish for sturgeon in the Columbia and its tributaries about Bonneville Dam, according to the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife. Fishing had been stopped in mid-July.

Any sturgeon caught now must be released.

This story was originally published August 31, 2015 at 6:53 PM with the headline "Cooler water ends threat to Mid-Columbia sturgeon."

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