In Grays Harbor the Wynoochee has had Summerrun Steelhead plants for many years. In the Chehalis Basin we do not have a natural run of Summerrun Steelhead so no genetic conflicts. Additionally it is a many generation hatchery fish that does not reproduce naturally with much success. ( seldom is a unclipped Summerrun caught in the Wynoochee ) Winter run Steelhead are primarily mitigation production for the Wynoochee and Skookumchuck dams. The Wynoochee production is not a native fish but rather a cross between early imported stock and early native Wynoochee which is called Van Winkle. Skookumchuck is of native origin but to what extent it is still genetically the same as wild fish I do not know but returning adults are captured at the dam.

At present WDFW Chehalis Basin Coho production is around 1,000,000 smolt a year. If that was Summerrun Steelhead the economic benefit would massively exceed any benefit from Coho production. It would end the non treaty impacts on Winter run Steelhead to be sure but it is hard to grasp what the spring and summer fisheries would be like but awesome comes to mind. I can not remember what I was reading but the Wynoochee Summerrun program has the highest cost / benefit ratio of any of our hatchery programs. It is a moneymaker.