Kitwanga Update to Aug.28th

Here is the latest Kitwanga counting fence update to Aug.28.
The high water receded without any undue damage to the facility and counts are continuing.
Of note are the very low sockeye and pink numbers.
The pinks numbers are amazingly low at only 800 or so. In 2004, over 70,000 pinks (even year) returned by comparison.
Information courtesy of Gitanyow Fisheries Authority


The Kitwanga River Salmon Enumeration Facility has been in operation since July 11, 2008 under higher than normal water conditions, and total salmon counts to the night of August 28, 2008 are as follows:
Sockeye = 186
Chinook = 1,407
Pink = 826
Chum = 7
Coho = 9
A total of 186 Sockeye have moved through the fence to date. Based on average run timings seen previously approximately 64% (max. = 85% / min. = 25%) of the run has usually moves through the KSEF by August 28 in any given year. If this years run timing holds true to average run timings observed previously, we predict that the sockeye escapement to the Kitwanga for 2008 will be < 300 fish.

Chinook escapement through the KSEF continues to be slow, the lowest ever recorded to the date since accurate enumeration started in 2003. Usually by August 28 our chinook escapements >2,300 and ~95% of the run would have moved through the site in any given year.

Pink salmon returns are the lowest on record since accurate enumeration commenced in 2003.
Very few chum / coho salmon have been counted to date.
Information courtesy of Gitanyow Fisheries Authority