The Copper River red salmon return has slowed down after a big start. This year’s run is predicted to be a little over 2 million sockeye, on the high side of the 10-year-average. State biologist Mark Sommerville says so far the overall return remains above that projection but volume has fallen off in the last week. Sommerville says that resulted in a reduced catch for dip-netters at Chitina.
Water levels are also an issue for Chitina dip-netters. Sommerville says the Copper River has been running about normal, but it’s now reported to be dropping with recent cooler weather.
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Dan Bross is a reporter at KUAC in Fairbanks.
