According to an article on Friday, March 30, 2007 in "The News Tribune", the newspaper for the South Sound, Washington congressmen introduced a new bill calling for some killing of the more aggressive salmon-crunching sea lions.California sea lions are preying on Columbia River salmon, which are presently heading upriver to spawn. The sea lions are gathering at the base of Bonneville Dam to wait and gorge themselves on the migrating salmon. The bill would permit the killing of a limited number of sea lions.
The Bradford Island Visitors Center at Bonneville Dam offers many exhibits that educate you about the dam operations, navigational history on the Columbia River, and fish migration. This was the first dam on the Columbia River to provide facilities for the passage of migratory fish. When the salmon are migrating, you can enjoy an underwater view of their spectacular ascent up the fish ladders (the ones that got past the sea lions).
The coordinates were taken at the Bradford Island Visitor Center where one can view the salmon when they are migrating up the Columbia River and learn more about the growing problem of the sea lions. The sea lions are located along the northwestern shores of Bradford Island and Robins Island. Fireworks and rubber bullets are presently used to scare off the sea lions but they are not very successful.
Instructions for logging waymark: a photograph is required that shows you (or your GPS receiver, if you are waymarking solo) and the Bradford Island Visitor Center.