Cowlitz Fish Report
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.
Click here to learn about the HAP process, timelines, and available application supportCowlitz Fish Report
August 17, 2026
Last week, Tacoma Power employees recovered 226 Summer-run Steelhead, 88 Spring Chinook adults, 13 Spring Chinook jacks, 135 Spring Chinook mini jacks, eight Fall Chinook adults, one Fall Chinook jack, and 21 Cutthroat trout over five days of operations at the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery separator.
During the past week, Tacoma Power employees released 36 Spring Chinook adults, four Spring Chinook jacks, and seven Cutthroat trout into Lake Scanewa at the Copper Canyon release site and they released 30 Spring Chinook adults and three Spring Chinook jacks at Franklin Bridge in Packwood. In addition, Tacoma Power employees released 14 Spring Chinook adults and three Spring Chinook jacks into the Cispus River near Yellowjacket Creek.
Tacoma Power employees released six Cutthroat trout, eight Fall Chinook adults, and one Fall Chinook jack into the Tilton River at Bremer Bridge.
As of Friday, August 14, 2026, Tacoma Power has recycled 1,746 Summer-run Steelhead and five Spring Chinook adults this season to the I-5 boat launch in Toledo.
River flow below Mayfield Dam is 2,330 cubic feet per second on Monday, August 17, 2026. Water visibility is 9 feet and water temperature is 52.9 (F). River flows could change at any time so boaters and anglers should remain alert for this possibility.
Cowlitz Fish Stats:
- Graphs of adult returns by species for each week and 10-year averages.
- Tables of collections by species for each week, season to date and weekly 5-year averages.