Every time the tide goes up water floods the hatchery ponds and coho from both Salmon River and Siletz River swim right out of their ponds and away. Because the Salmon River Hatchery pumps water to its ponds, plugged screens are less of a threat, but water level is approaching their pump and hatchery personnel worry that the pump may burn out. At the Leaburg Hatchery, intake screens are being worked 24 hours a day. The McKenzie, South Santiam, and Marion hatcheries are having no major problems thus far. Wednesday, February 7, evening Three more trucks arrive at the Roaring River hatchery, but are unable to load fish because of approaching darkness.
Drivers park their trucks and spend the night helping staff the station.
The three trucks sent from the Southwest region drive as far as Albany, but must spend the night there because of road closures on I-5. Thursday, February 8 All thirteen trucks are mobilized to move the remaining rainbows from Roaring River. Every truck was used and a few trucks made two trips until all of the fish were moved to Dexter. The immediate danger has passed and now the cleanup begins at hatcheries throughout western Oregon. Alsea, Fall Creek and Roaring River hatcheries have tons of mud now lining the concrete raceways and ponds where fish are kept.