Return to the River will describe a new ecosystem-based approach to the restoration of salmon and steelhead populations in the Columbia River, once one of the most productive river basins for anadromous salmonids on the west coast of North America. The approach of this work has broad applicability to all recovery efforts throughout the northern hemisphere and general applicability to fisheries and aquatic restoration efforts throughout the world. The Pacific Northwest is now embroiled in a major public policy debate over the management and restoration of Pacific salmon. The outcome of the debate has the potential to affect major segments of the region's economy - river transportation, hydroelectric production, irrigated agriculture, urban growth, commercial and sport fisheries, etc. This debate, centered as it is on the salmon in all the rivers, has created a huge demand for information. The book will be a powerful addition to that debate. - A 15 year collaboration by a diverse group of scientists working on the management and recovery of salmon, steelhead trout, and wildlife populations in the Pacific Northwest - Includes over 200 figures, with four-color throughout the book - Discusses complex issues such as habitat degradation, juvenile survival through the hydrosystem, the role of artificial production, and harvest reform

The approach selected to achieve mitigation was to subdivide production requirements into four hatcheries with regard to compatible production cycles and manageable size. A single, large facility was not considered practical due to inter alia, the increased potential for waterborne disease or environmental problems to eliminate an entire year class of fish at a facility supplied with a single water source. Capital costs for the total mitigation hatchery plan (four hatcheries) were estimated at $39.1 million; annual operation and maintenance costs (excluding energy) would be approximately $768,500. Using a two-year cycle production cycle, the mitigation goal for steelhead could be met at hatcheries supplied with ambient Columbia River water. Ground water sources were not confirmed in the study area. Without a ground water supply, the full mitigation goal for the salmon species could be met only if mechanical heating and cooling were employed to modify ambient Columbia River water temperatures. With single-pass water use, annual energy requirements for thermally modifying water to supply hatcheries producing spring, summer, and fall Chinook and coho would be approximately 308,000,000,000 BTU. Until adequate data are developed to construct a production model for sockeye salmon, efforts should be directed at augmenting natural production in Lake Wenatchee and Lake Osoyoos.