Oregon Public Broadcasting

The recent Northwest heat wave was uncomfortable and potentially dangerous for people; it was deadly for fish.

Washington state wildlife officials say hundreds of thousands of them died in hatcheries. Correspondent Doug Nadvornick reports the cooler weather that followed alleviated the problem.

Rich Eltrich from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife says the sweltering conditions are gone for now, but the drought remains.

Rich Eltrich: “There are two things that are happening. One is the creeks and rivers are drying up, so the amount of water we have to access our hatcheries is diminishing. And then the water temperatures are becoming unusually warm.”

At one hatchery in southwest Washington, state officials say nearly all of the young steelhead were killed by a parasite that thrived in the warm water. What do they do with those dead fish? Bury them in a landfill.

In eastern Washington, officials say hot water also forced them to close the salmon fishing season early on Lake Wenatchee.

Strangely, the heat may have led to a higher than expected steelhead run. State officials say fish that were swimming in hot water may have headed upstream in search of cooler places.