Sports...briefly

Parking fees for day visits in parks will remain at $5 per day or $50 per year, until January 2008.

Statewide day vehicle parking permits were adopted by the commission in December 2002, with collection beginning in January 2003. The commission at that time approved fees of $7 for the daily permit and $70 for the annual permit, discounted to $5 and $50 respectively until 2006.

At its regularly scheduled meeting last week, the commission acted to extend the discount for an additional two years.

The day vehicle parking fee was adopted to help the commission catch the park system up on a maintenance backlog that includes park buildings, sewer and water systems and roads.

Previously, fees had been charged only for watercraft launching and to campers, who historically have made up approximately 3 percent of total visits to state parks. Over the years, State Parks' obligation to raise operational revenues from permits, fees and other sources has increased, so that today, the agency is obligated to raise nearly 40 percent of its budget.

The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission manages a diverse system of more than 120 parks and several recreation programs, including boating, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling. The 92-year-old park system will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2013.

Fishing:

While the waiting game continues for salmon, anglers have been reporting good fishing for summer steelhead and white sturgeon on stretches of the Columbia River and its tributaries.

A survey team counted about 50 boats around Buoy 10 during a Saturday fly-over, but very few salmon, said Wendy Beeghley, a fish biologist who monitors the coastal fishery. "It's still pretty early, but salmon anglers should start seeing some action around the third week of August."

Some fall chinook have been showing up in the catch farther upriver, but hatchery steelhead are still drawing most of the attention right now, said Manuel Farinas, WDFW regional fish manager.

"Summer steelhead runs usually peak in late July, but there are still a lot of fish around," Farinas said.

One hotspot has been Drano Lake at the mouth of the Little White Salmon River, where boat anglers have been averaging 1.7 hatchery steelhead per rod. Bank anglers are also doing fairly well there, said Farinas, noting that anglers must release any unmarked steelhead they catch on the Columbia and its tributaries.

Steelhead were also reported rolling at the mouth of the Wind River, while anglers pulled some good-sized steelies from the White Salmon River.

Wildlife viewing:

Surveys of rare sandhill crane breeding areas at the Conboy National Wildlife Refuge in Klickitat County are nearing completion.

One aerial survey produced a count of 26 cranes, which is roughly half the refuge's sandhill population, and included several sets of juvenile birds, also called "colts."

Standing 46 inches tall with a 77-inch wingspan, sandhill cranes are one of the largest birds in North America. Adults are easily identified in wintertime by their grey body plumage and crimson crown.

Winter Recreation:

Mt. Hood Meadows special, unlimited season passes for 2005-06 are available for purchase online at www.skihood.com through Nov. 6.

Four adults (ages 23-64) can buy four unlimited passes for $425 each; three 15- to 22-year-olds can buy passes for $300 each; and two juniors (ages 7-14) can get passes for $200 each.

Available to groups of 10 or more is Meadows' 10-time pass at $295 per. (A single 10-time pass costs $330 purchased separately.)

Groups must finalize their purchases together online by Nov. 6 to take advantage of these special rates.