I think I should add this. When working with native Chinook I was taught by agency staff that planning is everything. By planning I mean you have to be able to close the loop. The loop is brood, incubation, rearing, release, and brood to do it again. Each step has multiple issues that go with it from water quality to disease control. In the Willapa the only facility that can achieve this Forks Creek on the Willapa River. Totally remodeled and up to date it also has holding water for returning Chinook adults and can make a 5 million eggtake goal.

The Naselle on the other hand is in need of a total redo for over 10 million I am told. It suffers from warm summer water requiring Coho fry to be transferred to Nemah in order to make release numbers. Also in dry years ICH and other bugs ravage the returning to adults. Think of three generations or 15 years and say the Naselle has a failure two out of the five years in each five year cycle. After three cycles you end up with production being below anticipated two or three years of any five year cycle.

So in their wisdom WDFW proposes to close Folks Creek ( the only quality up to date facility capable to rear 5 million Chinook ) and Nemah. ( the most cost effective but needs maintenance ) Then use the most inadequate facility in Willapa ( Naselle ) to rear maximum production of Chinook.

Simply put this whole mess is about the rec vs commercial thing and to be honest before they get done WDFW will blow up the commercial fisheries just as they have done to the rec. Their is a simple solution to the rec / commercial thing in the North Bay but that is a different issue.