The Puget Sound historical data base from WDFW's "Oncorhynchus mykiss: Assessment of Washington State's Steelhead Populations and Programs" provides some interesting information regarding Green River steelhead (the DOW escapement goal for the basin was 2,000).

In the early 1980s (1980 to 1984) the average wild steelhead escapement was estimated to have been 1,710. Average wild steelhead run during the late 1980s (1985 to 1989 -the next generation) was 3,154 or about 1.8 recruits/spawner.

In the early 1990s the average escapement was 1,695. The average return in the late 1990s was 2,602 or about 1.5 recruits/spawners.

In early 2000s (2000 TO 2004) the average escapement was 1,674. The average return in the latter part of that decade (2005 to 2009) was 1,168 or about 0.80 recruits/spawner.

While the above is not a prefect run reconstruction, I think it is adequate to provide insight into the productivity trends of that population over time.

Take home message - In site of the degraded habitats in the Green as suggested by SG that reduced capacity was consistently able to produce harvestable steelhead until the marine (smolt to adult) survivals fell to current levels.

Curt