Predator Control

Avian Arrays
Installation of avian wire deters various species of fish-eating birds that prey upon migrating salmon smolts.  Grant PUD conducted studies of predatory bird activity in the tailrace at both Priest Rapids and Wanapum dams to determine where birds feed upon smolts. Wire arrays were installed at both dams to cover areas where predatory bird activity has taken place.

Northern Pikeminnow
Northern pikeminnow are a native piscivorous (fish eating) minnow that lives in the Columbia River. Northern Pikeminnow larger that eight inches are known to feed heavily on salmonid smolts during the downstream migration every year. To help increase survival of the salmonids moving through the Priest Rapids Project, Grant PUD implemented a northern pikeminnow control program that focuses on removing adults, sub-adult and yearling northern pikeminnow. Utility staff uses set lines, seines (a net that hangs vertically in the water), traps and angling tackle to remove as many northern pikeminnow as necessary and increase the overall survival of migrating juvenile salmonids.