While it is easy to blame the State and especially WDFW for the demise of our steelhead the real blame should be placed squarely on each of our shoulders. We as a State and a society do not value our steelhead (or Chinook and orcas for that matter) enough to demand meaningful actions be taken to reverse the freshwater and marine features that are limiting our fish.

I guess the good news is that with the end of steelhead hatcheries and all fishing in few years there will hardly anyone invested in steelhead to decry our irresponsible actions that allowed our state fish to slip to extinction.

By now it should be clear that for the citizens of this state the motto should be "extinction is now the preferred option".

Happy new year!

Curt