Oregon Salmon and Steelhead Recovery

Your opinions are needed to inform policy decisions that affect salmon and steelhead fish 

population management in Oregon. Please return your completed survey in the provided 

postage-paid envelope.

Thank you for your help.

OMB Control No. 20xx-xxxx – Approval expires xx/xx/xx

What do YOU think 

should be done? 
1

WHAT THIS SURVEY IS ABOUT

This survey asks for your opinion on Willamette River watershed salmon & steelhead fisheries 

management. Your household was chosen at random from a list of Oregon addresses to receive 

this survey. Your responses will help authorities choose the best option. Some of the background 

information is based on Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration sources, but this survey was written and sponsored by the 

Environmental Protection Agency.

Fish Species

 There are several species of salmon and steelhead trout in Oregon. These fish 

live most of their lives in the ocean, but return to Oregon rivers and streams to 

spawn. There are two kinds of fish: wild-origin fish, reproducing on their own; 

and hatchery-origin fish, bred in fish hatcheries and released into rivers and 

streams to provide fishing opportunities. 

Location

 This survey is about the salmon and steelhead in the Willamette River watershed

only, shown in the map on the next page. The Willamette River is the main river 

passing through the most populated parts of Oregon, such as Eugene, Salem, and 

Portland. Fish have to swim up the Columbia River and through Portland to get 

to any part of the upper Willamette watershed. Major tributary rivers included in 

the Willamette watershed recovery plan are the Clackamas, Molalla, North 

Santiam, South Santiam, Calapooia, McKenzie, and Middle Fork Willamette 

Rivers.

Current Population Numbers

 Currently, the total number of wild-origin and hatchery-origin salmon and 

steelhead returning to the Willamette River watershed to spawn is about 80,000 

per year. For comparison, this is about 5% of the 1.6 million salmon and 

steelhead returning to the rest of the Columbia River watershed. 
2

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

In the Willamette River watershed, about 75% of the returning salmon and steelhead are 

hatchery-origin fish and about 25% are wild-origin fish. 

Scientists believe that, historically, over 1 million wild-origin salmon and steelhead returned to 

the Willamette watershed. Current wild-origin salmon and steelhead returns to the Willamette 

are about 20,000 fish per year. This is less than 5% of estimated historical wild returns. The 

combined effects of fish harvest, hatchery fish interactions, dams and flood control, and habitat 

alterations have led to these declines. 

Declining abundance and reductions in habitat provided the scientific evidence for Willamette 

River Spring Chinook and Winter Steelhead to be listed as "Threatened" under the federal 

Endangered Species Act. These listings occurred in 1999.

Willamette Basin of Oregon

Willamette watershed boundary
3

Wild Fish Background

 Wild salmon and steelhead in the Willamette River watershed were listed as “Threatened” 

under the Endangered Species Act in 1999. These fish are called Spring Chinook and Winter 

Steelhead. 

 “Threatened” means the populations are not self-sustaining. Chinook have a 60% to 100% 

chance of going extinct in the next 100 yrs.

 These wild salmon and steelhead cannot be harvested by recreational or commercial anglers 

in the Willamette watershed.

 There are other Threatened or Endangered fish in Oregon. Another well-known example is 

coastal Coho Salmon.

 There are other Willamette watershed fisheries, such as sturgeon, a wild and native fish. 

There are also non-native fish species that are self-sustaining in Oregon, such as large and 

smallmouth bass.

 There are other wild salmon and steelhead fisheries in Oregon, including Central Oregon, 

Eastern Oregon, and the Coast Range. 

 There are other wild salmon and steelhead fisheries in Washington, Idaho, and California.

 

 Chinook Salmon (King, Blackmouth, Tyee) average size is 10 - 15 lbs, and up to 135 lbs.

 Steelhead (steelhead trout, sea-run rainbow trout) average 8 - 11 lbs, and up to 40 lbs
4

Hatchery Fish Background

 As noted on page 3, fish hatcheries produce the majority of the salmon and steelhead 

that return to the Willamette River watershed. There are 33 fish hatcheries in Oregon, 

and 7 fish hatcheries in the Willamette River watershed. The primary reason for Oregon 

fish hatcheries is to replace losses in wild-origin fish. 

 Hatchery fish can be harvested. They are marked with a clipped fin so they can be 

distinguished from wild fish. Wild-origin salmon and steelhead, however, cannot be 

harvested in the Willamette watershed. Anglers who are mainly interested in harvest 

therefore prefer salmon and steelhead from hatcheries.

 Almost none of the salmon sold in Oregon stores and restaurants comes from the 

Willamette watershed since it is such a small percentage of the West Coast salmon 

fishery.

 Hatcheries are not the same thing as privately or corporation-owned ‘fish farms’. 

Hatcheries release fish into the wild, but farmed fish are bred and harvested in captivity.

 Hatchery fish can crowd wild fish out of their habitat, so fish managers reduce impacts 

on wild fish by releasing hatchery fish at times of the year and locations that minimize 

interactions with wild fish. 

 

Hatchery spring Chinook 

salmon at Willamette 

hatchery in Oakridge, Oregon
5

 

THIS SURVEY WILL ASK YOU TO MAKE CHOICES ABOUT 

WILLAMETTE WILD SALMON & STEELHEAD RECOVERY

 Recovery would mean the wild populations would be self-sustaining. There would no 

longer be a significant risk of extinction in the next 100 years for wild Willamette 

watershed salmon and steelhead.

 There is currently no legal harvest of wild-origin salmon and steelhead in the Willamette 

watershed, so these wild fish tend to be important to people who like the idea of fish 

populations being self-sustaining. 

 Hatchery fish are important to recreational anglers who want the opportunity to keep 

fish they have caught. The voting questions do not consider any changes to hatcheries. 

1. Before reading this survey were you aware that the salmon and steelhead in the 

Willamette watershed were considered “Threatened” under the Endangered Species Act?

 Yes  No

2. Before reading this survey were you aware that the state of Oregon has hatcheries for 

salmon and steelhead?

 Yes  No

3. Before reading this survey were you aware that most of the salmon and steelhead in the 

Willamette watershed are hatchery-origin fish? 

 Yes  No

4. Do you regularly purchase an Oregon state fishing license? 

 Yes  No

5. Does anybody else in your household regularly purchase an Oregon state fishing license? 

 Yes  No
6

Paying for Programs to Recover Wild Salmon and Steelhead

Recovering spring Chinook and steelhead populations – and maintaining this recovery into 

the future – requires a range of management strategies. Recovery programs being 

considered would improve ecological conditions for salmon and steelhead.

People can aid salmon and steelhead recovery with good stewardship of land, using water 

wisely, and implementing restoration projects to improve habitat conditions. All of these 

cost money. The funding would come from a new permanent tax. This tax would be a 

shared responsibility paid by all Oregonians. Money collected from the tax would be used to 

implement programs that address the primary threats to fish recovery. Recovery programs 

would be a collaborative effort between local, state, and federal organizations. 

What additional recovery programs would do:

Improve conditions of the Willamette Basin for salmon and steelhead recovery. The 

specific types of improvements will depend on the design of the program. Example 

activities include:

 Retrofit dams to allow fish to swim past them, using devices such as fish 

ladders. 

 Collect returning fish in holding ponds below dams and truck them above the 

dam.

 Restoring floodplains and reconnecting side channels and wetlands.

 Increasing stream flow by changing the schedule of water releases from dams.

 Improving water quality by reducing pollution from urban and agricultural 

areas.

 Removing or replacing culverts and other structures that block fish passage.

What additional recovery programs would not do:

 Affect salmon and steelhead populations outside the Willamette Basin.

 Have a noticeable effect on the quality or price of seafood you buy.
7

Willamette Wild Salmon and Steelhead Recovery Options

No Intervention

 Willamette Spring Chinook and Winter Steelhead are both currently listed as 

“Threatened” species. The risk of Spring Chinook going extinct in the next 100 

years would remain between 60% and 100%. 

 Estimated returns currently total about 20,000 fish per year. 

 Catch-and-release fishing in the appropriate season, but wild fish may not be 

kept.

Basic Recovery

 This option would use tools listed on page 7 to create the conditions for more 

wild fish to reproduce on their own. Willamette Spring Chinook and Winter 

Steelhead would no longer be a “Threatened” species and there would not be a 

significant risk of them going extinct in the next 100 years. 

 Estimated returns would be about 40,000 fish per year. 

 Catch-and-release fishing in the appropriate season, but wild fish may not be 

kept.

High Recovery

 This option would more intensively use the tools listed on page 7 to create the 

conditions for more wild fish to reproduce on their own. Willamette Spring 

Chinook and Winter Steelhead would no longer be a “Threatened” species and 

there would not be a significant risk of them going extinct in the next 100 

years.

 Estimated returns would be about 70,000 fish per year. 

 Catch-and-release fishing in the appropriate season, but wild fish may not be 

kept.
8

Time to Recovery Options

Wild fish populations can recover sooner if the management tools listed on page 7 are used 

more intensively. However, more intensive use of these tools is also more expensive. 

 If you select “No Intervention” – there is no “time to recovery”.

 If you select an intervention, different proposed interventions have different times 

to recovery:

o 15 years

o 25 years

o 50 years

High Recovery

No Recovery

Basic Recovery

70,000 fish & even 

lower extinction risk

40,000 fish & low 

extinction risk

20,000 fish & high 

extinction risk

Today Time to Recovery
9

The next question helps us understand your priorities for public 

issues. As a society, we cannot afford to fix all policy problems, so 

we have to decide upon priorities.

6. What are your personal relative priorities? (Click one box per row.)

Very 

High 

Priority

High 

priority

Low 

priority

Not a 

priority 

at all

Not sure

National security     

Reducing poverty and hunger     

Improving education     

Improving food safety     

Protecting endangered species     

Reducing unemployment     

Reducing violent crime     

Improving drinking water safety     

Improving health care     

Improving air quality     

Preventing climate change     

Very 

High 

Priority

High 

priority

Low 

priority

Not a 

priority 

at all

Not sure
10

What do you think should be done about salmon and steelhead

management?

In a moment, you will be asked about which alternatives you think are the best. Public officials 

will take the results of this survey into account when they choose among wild salmon and 

steelhead management options. 

An example question is shown on the next page.

Experience from other studies has shown that people tend to respond differently in a survey 

than they would in real life, since they don’t actually have to follow through with their choices.

When voting we urge you to answer the questions as if you were really faced with these 

decisions and the costs to your household would really go up if the management options were 

implemented.

Important instructions

 In the questions that follow, we ask your opinion about different options for 

managing wild salmon and steelhead in the Willamette watershed.

 You will be asked three voting questions. In each question, you will vote for 

the option you like best from the three alternatives.

 Choosing the No Intervention option keeps the current conditions but does 

not add new restoration activities.

 Option A and Option B are different in each question, with different 

outcomes and costs to your household.
11

An Example Question

In each question, you will be asked to vote on three options. (Mark one box at the bottom of 

each question to indicate which option you prefer.) 

Recovery Outcome

No 

Intervention Option A Option B

Wild

Salmon &

Steelhead Status

Threatened

(20,000 wild 

fish returning 

per year)

Basic Recovery

(40,000 wild 

fish returning 

per year)

High Recovery

(70,000 wild 

fish returning 

per year)

Time to Recovery 

Salmon & 

Steelhead

No Recovery

15 years

(time until wild 

fish reach 

recovery goal)

50 years

(time until wild 

fish reach 

recovery goal)

$

Annual Cost to 

Your Household

(Permanent 

increase to your 

household starting 

next year)

$0 every year

$120 every 

year

(equivalent to 

$10 per month)

$75 every year

(equivalent to 

$6.25 per 

month)

Your vote

Please mark one of the 

boxes to the right 

No Intervention



Option A



Option B



Recovery outcomes

for each option are 

listed here

Annual cost to your 

household for each 

option listed here

To vote for No Intervention 

mark this box

To vote for Option A 

mark this box

To vote for Option B 

mark this box

When you vote on the next three questions, please remember:

 Consider each question separately. Imagine that the options in that question 

are the only options available to choose from.

 Recovery options will not change restrictions on harvesting the restored wild 

salmon and steelhead populations.

 The recovery outcomes in each question are based on the best scientific 

predictions available. 
12

7. Please vote for one of the three options below. (Mark one box at the bottom to indicate 

which option you prefer).

8. How certain are that you would actually make this choice on a scale of 0 to 10, where 0 is 

“Very uncertain” and 10 is “Very certain”? Please circle one answer on this scale.

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Recovery Outcome No Intervention Option A Option B

Wild 

Salmon & Steelhead

Status

Threatened

(20,000 wild fish 

returning per year)

Basic Recovery

(40,000 wild fish 

returning per year)

High Recovery

(70,000 wild fish 

returning per year)

Time to Recovery 

Salmon & Steelhead No Recovery

50 years

(time until wild fish 

reach recovery goal)

50 years

(time until wild fish 

reach recovery goal)

$

Annual Cost To Your 

Household 

(Permanent increase 

to your household 

starting next year)

$0 every year

$40 every year

(equivalent to $3.33 

per month)

$75 every year

(equivalent to $6.25

per month)

Your Vote

Please mark one of the 

boxes to the right

No Intervention



Option A



Option B



Very 

uncertain

Very 

certain
13

9. Please vote for one of the three options below. (Mark one box at the bottom to indicate 

which option you prefer).

10. How certain are that you would actually make this choice on a scale of 0 to 10, where 0 is 

“Very uncertain” and 10 is “Very certain”? Please circle one answer on this scale.

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Recovery Outcome No Intervention Option A Option B

Wild 

Salmon & Steelhead

Status

Threatened

(20,000 wild fish 

returning per year)

Basic Recovery

(40,000 wild fish 

returning per year)

High Recovery

(70,000 wild fish 

returning per year)

Time to Recovery 

Salmon & Steelhead No Recovery

50 years

(time until wild fish 

reach recovery goal)

50 years

(time until wild fish 

reach recovery goal)

$

Annual Cost To Your 

Household 

(Permanent increase 

to your household 

starting next year)

$0 every year

$40 every year

(equivalent to $3.33 

per month)

$75 every year

(equivalent to $6.25

per month)

Your Vote

Please mark one of the 

boxes to the right

No Intervention



Option A



Option B



Very 

uncertain

Very 

certain
14

11. Please vote for one of the three options below. (Mark one box at the bottom to indicate 

which option you prefer).

12. How certain are that you would actually make this choice on a scale of 0 to 10, where 0 is 

“Very uncertain” and 10 is “Very certain”? Please circle one answer on this scale.

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Recovery Outcome No Intervention Option A Option B

Wild 

Salmon & Steelhead

Status

Threatened

(20,000 wild fish 

returning per year)

Basic Recovery

(40,000 wild fish 

returning per year)

High Recovery

(70,000 wild fish 

returning per year)

Time to Recovery 

Salmon & Steelhead No Recovery

50 years

(time until wild fish 

reach recovery goal)

50 years

(time until wild fish 

reach recovery goal)

$

Annual Cost To Your 

Household 

(Permanent increase 

to your household 

starting next year)

$0 every year

$40 every year

(equivalent to $3.33 

per month)

$75 every year

(equivalent to $6.25

per month)

Your Vote

Please mark one of the 

boxes to the right

No Intervention



Option A



Option B



Very 

uncertain

Very 

certain
15

Strongly 

Disagree

Strongly 

Agree

Neutral

13. Thinking about the choices you made in the previous voting questions, how much do you 

agree or disagree that the following statements? (Please circle one number for each 

statement.)

14. To what extent do you believe that the results of this survey, based on your answers and 

the answers of other respondents, will be taken into consideration by policy makers? (Please 

circle one number.)

Definitely not

taken in account Unsure Definitely taken into account

1 2 3 4 5

My choices would have been different if the 

economy in my area were better.

1 2 3 4 5

It is important to restore Willamette basin 

salmon and steelhead, no matter how much it 

costs.

1 2 3 4 5

The descriptions in the recovery plan were 

hard to understand.

1 2 3 4 5

Salmon and steelhead recovery is important, 

but I do not believe that the recovery options 

will actually increase the number of fish as 

described.

1 2 3 4 5

Recovery options were not worth their costs 

to my household.

1 2 3 4 5

The changes offered by the plans happen too 

far into the future for me to really care.

1 2 3 4 5

Recovery program should be paid by 

commercial and recreational anglers rather 

than by all Oregon residents.

1 2 3 4 5

Salmon and steelhead recovery is not that 

important to me..

1 2 3 4 5

Environmental conditions besides fish were 

important factors in my decision.

1 2 3 4 5

Somebody else should pay 1 2 3 4 5
16

Strongly 

Disagree

Strongly 

Agree

Neutral

15. Thinking about the choices you made in the previous voting questions, how much do you 

agree or disagree with the following statements? (Please circle one number for each 

statement.)

I chose as if my household would actually face 

the costs shown in the questions.

1 2 3 4 5

I voted for a recovery plan option because I 

thought it would increase the chances that 

the government would do the same thing in 

rivers basins closer to my home.

1 2 3 4 5

It is important to restore wild salmon and 

steelhead no matter how much it costs.

1 2 3 4 5

I should not have to pay for wild salmon and 

steelhead recovery.

1 2 3 4 5

I voted for a recovery plan option more for 

future generations than myself.

1 2 3 4 5

Recovery should be funded with existing 

taxes.

1 2 3 4 5

I prefer to make a voluntary donation than to 

increase taxes.

1 2 3 4 5

I cannot afford to help pay for these programs 1 2 3 4 5

I think wild salmon and steelhead recovery 

would happen too far in the future to be 

worthwhile.

1 2 3 4 5

The government should be involved in 

regulating the activities of people and 

businesses, in order to protect or improve the 

environment.

1 2 3 4 5

Background information in the survey was fair 

and unbiased.

1 2 3 4 5
17

Questions about your activities on lakes, rivers, and streams in the 

Willamette basin

The following questions will ask you about single-day trips you have taken to visit a lake, river, or 

stream in the Willamette basin. By single-day trips, we mean visits where you traveled at least 

15 minutes from home, but did not spend the night away. This includes short trips within your 

community, and longer trips that take several hours or an entire day.

16. In the last 12 months, how many single-day trips did you take to visit a lake, stream, or 

river in the Willamette basin for recreational purposes?

(Please circle one number.)

0 1 2 3 4

If more than 4, write in 

number of trips:

__________

Don’t know how many 

trips I took in the past 

12 months



17. If you did visit one or more lake, stream, or river in the Willamette basin in the last 12 

months, which site did you visit most often? (Fill in as much information as you can).

 17a. Name of site _______________________________________________________

 17b. How long did it take you to drive there from your home?

 _________ hours and _________ minutes

 17c. What is the nearest town to that site? ___________________________________

 17d. What did you do on your visit(s) to that site? (Check all activities you did on your

 visits)

 Fishing  Swimming or playing in the water

 Boating, canoeing or kayaking  Camping

 Hunting  Hiking, walking, or running

 Bird watching or wildlife viewing  Other _____________________
18

18. On these single-day trips in the last 12 months, who normally went with you?

 No one, I usually went alone

 1 or more other adults, but no children

 1 or more other people, including children

19. In the past 12 months, which of the following lakes, rivers, or streams did you visit? (Please 

check all that you have visited and write in the number of visits in the past 12 months).

An example __2_Blue River Lake

______Willamette River within Portland ______Willamette River outside of Portland

______Coast Fork Willamette ______Middle Fork Willamette

______Tualtin River ______McKenzie River

______North Fork Yamhill River ______South Fork Yamhill

______Mollala River ______Clackamas River

______North Santiam River ______South Santiam River

______Calapooia River ______Mary’s River

______Long Tom River ______Luckiamute River

______Breitenbush River ______Eagle Creek

______Quartzville Creek ______Pudding River `

______Hills Creek ` ______Cougar Lake

______Detroit Lake ______Clear Lake

______Dexter Lake ______Dorena Lake

______Fall Creek ______Fern Ridge Lake

______Foster Lake ______Green Peter Lake

______Hills Creek Lake ______Blue River Lake

______Big Cliff Lake ______Leaburg Lake

______North Fork Lake (Clackamas) ______Cottage Grove Lake

______Lookout Point Lake ______Other ___________________

______Other ___________________ ______Other ___________________
19

Strongly 

Disagree

Strongly 

Agree

Neutral

The Next Questions Ask You About Your Views On Hatchery-origin 

and Wild-origin Salmon and Steelhead in the Willamette Basin

It is possible that a large reduction in the number of hatchery salmon and steelhead in the 

Willamette watershed might be required to meet wild salmon and steelhead recovery goals. 

These reductions may be needed to reduce competition between hatchery and wild fish for 

resources and habitat. Reductions in the number of hatchery fish in the Willamette watershed 

would mean fewer salmon and steelhead available for recreational anglers to catch and bring 

home. 

20. Would your household support a large reduction in hatchery salmon and steelhead in the 

Willamette watershed if it would help to achieve wild salmon and steelhead recovery?

(Please circle one number.)

Definitely 

would not

support

Unsure

Definitely 

would 

support

1 2 3 4 5

21. How much do you agree or disagree with the following statements about wild-origin and 

hatchery-origin salmon and steelhead? (Please circle one number for each statement.)

A wild-origin fish population is more valuable 

to me than a population of hatchery fish 

because its presence indicates a wellfunctioning, healthy watershed.

1 2 3 4 5

Oregon salmon and steelhead populations 

need to be managed so they support harvest.

1 2 3 4 5

The recreation opportunity provided by 

hatchery-origin fish is more important than 

having sustainable wild, but not harvestable 

populations.

1 2 3 4 5
20

About you and your household

To finish, we have some questions about you for statistical purposes only. Please be assured 

that all of your answers will remain completely confidential. We ask these questions so that we 

can determine how the socio

22: What is your sex?  Male  Female

23: What is your age? _________ years old 

24: How many children under age 18 are living in your home? ________ children

25: Does anyone in your household belong to an environmental organization (such as 

the Sierra Club, or National Audubon Society)?

 

 Yes  No  Don’t Know

26: In 2013, what was your total pre-tax household income, including all earners 

in your household?

 Under $25,000  $100,000 to $149,999 

 $25,000 to $49,999  $150,000 to $199,999

 $50,000 to $74,999  Above $200,000

 $75,000 to $99,999 

Note: Please answer BOTH Questions 24 about Hispanic origin and Question 25. For 

this survey, Hispanic origins are not races.

27: Are you of Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin?:

 Yes  No  I prefer not to answer

28. What is your race? (You may select more than one.)

 American Indian or Alaska Native  Asian Indian

 Black or African American  White

 Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander  Asian

 Black/African American  Some other race
21

29. What is the highest degree or level of school you have completed?

 Less than high school  Associate’s degree

 High school or GED  Bachelor’s degree

 Some college (1-4 years, no degree)  Graduate degree

Thank you! You have completed the survey.

Please return the survey in the provided postage-paid envelope.

30. Have you or any member of your household ever worked for any of the following 

industries or jobs? (Please check all that apply)

 Commercial fishing  Electric power generation

 Farming  Commercial timber

 Dam operations  River or fishing guiding

31. Would you say that you and your household are better off, just about the same, or worse 

off financially than you were a year ago?

 We are better off

 We are just about the same

 We are worse off

32. Looking ahead, do you think that a year from now you and your family will be financially 

better off, just about the same, or worse off finically?

 We will be better off

 We will be just about the same

 We will be worse off
22

Thank you again for providing us with your views. Your input is 

very important.

If you have any additional thoughts or comments about any of the topics or the survey itself, 

please share them here.

If you have any questions, please call 541-754-4703 or email papenfus.michael@epa.gov

The public reporting and recordkeeping burden for this collection of information is estimated to 

average 30 minutes per response. Send comments on the Agency's need for this information, the 

accuracy of the provided burden estimates, and any suggested methods for minimizing 

respondent burden, including through the use of automated collection techniques to the 

Director, Collection Strategies Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (2822T), 1200 

Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, D.C. 20460. Include the OMB control number in any 

correspondence. Do not send the completed survey to this address.