Cowlitz Fish Report
Get the latest information on fish returns and sorting throughout the Cowlitz River system. Tacoma Power’s weekly Cowlitz Fish Report includes fish counts and releases at key locations, along with current river flow, water visibility and temperature below Mayfield Dam.
Weekly Fish Report
-
Last week, Tacoma Power employees recovered 653 Coho adults, 136 Coho jacks, 20 Summer-run Steelhead, 27 Spring Chinook adults, two Spring Chinook jacks, 17 Spring Chinook mini jacks, 119 Fall Chinook adults, 51 Fall Chinook jacks, and 40 Cutthroat trout over five days of operations at the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery separator.
During the past week, Tacoma Power employees released 456 Coho adults, 84 Coho jacks, 15 Spring Chinook adults, two Spring Chinook jacks, and five Cutthroat trout into Lake Scanewa at the Day Use Park and they released 84 Coho adults, 22 Coho jacks, and eight Spring Chinook adults at Franklin Bridge in Packwood. In addition, Tacoma Power employees released 59 Coho adults, 21 Coho jacks, and one Spring Chinook adult into the Cispus River near Yellowjacket Creek.
Tacoma Power employees released 12 Coho adults, nine Coho jacks, seven Cutthroat trout, 61 Fall Chinook adults, and 45 Fall Chinook jacks into the Tilton River at Bremer Bridge.
River flow below Mayfield Dam is 2,360 cubic feet per second on Monday, September 21, 2026. Water visibility is eight feet and water temperature is 52.2 (F). River flows could change at any time so boaters and anglers should remain alert for this possibility.
Cowlitz Fish Data
Hatchery-Associated Production (HAP)
Cowlitz Restoration and Recovery grant funding is available for hatchery-associated production (HAP) projects or activities that lead to on-the-ground projects. The 2026 grant round is closed. Year-round engagement is encouraged to prepare for future grant rounds.