Proposal would recycle salmon carcasses in river systems

BREWSTER – Centuries ago, migrating salmon returning from the ocean to spawn and die in headwaters of the rivers where they were born ensured that nutrients from their decaying bodies helped feed and sustain other river life in a healthy food chain. Today that is not happening as much.

Pateros resident and Methow tribal member Mark Miller is pursuing a campaign to replicate part of that historic life cycle. Miller’s idea, which he shared with Brewster Public Works Director Lee Webster, involves a voluntary program that collects salmon carcasses from the shores of the Columbia River, from hatcheries, and other sources and deposits them in the upper reaches of local river systems like the Methow. 

“It has been done in other places,” said Miller citing “a project on the Olympic Peninsula” where fishing guides and their clients are cooperating to recycle salmon carcasses.

Miller said that public education is an important component of the project.

“One of the concepts that worked out pretty well on the peninsula was a poster contest at the schools,” said Millers. “The kids were learning about it and getting involved.”

Miller said he is working with the Colville tribes, the local hatcheries, the City of Brewster, and other potential partners. 

“Especially the City of Brewster because of the boat launch, the fishery, and the RV park have an incredible number of fish harvested there,” Miller said. 

The tribe catches sockeye at the mouth of the Okanogan and processes them in Omak. There the salmon are frozen and vacuum bagged for distribution among tribes including the Upper Columbia tribes that have lost their salmon. Between the tribal and Brewster fisheries the estimated daily catch is 2,000 fish during the harvest season. In Brewster, the carcasses are dropped into the water at the park.

“That creates a problem for the city so I am hoping those put in a tote and saved for later so we can process them,” Miller said.

The plan has many moving parts, from initial collection to final recycling, and Miller must consider each one in the chain, including carcass collection bins, cold storage, transport, processing, and disposition.

Miller said developing a relationship with the U.S. Forest Service is necessary.

“They have most of the headwaters under their jurisdiction,” Miller said. 

Webster announced his discussion with Miller at the latest city council meeting. He said the Colville Tribe has granted preliminary approval to haul the carcasses to the tribal hatchery. The hatchery will transport the carcasses to a meat processing facility being built in Omak, where they will be pelletized for eventual return to the river systems.

I think this will happen,” said Webster. “The logistics will be tough.”

“I’m working on the logistics right now,” said Miller. “It is a huge number of fish.”

Mike Maltais: 360-333-8483 or michael@ward.media