Originally Posted By: RUNnGUN
SG. I remember the topic of specific management plans for each river came up some time ago. Are those called Hatchery Genetic Management Plans, HGMP? How come other rivers have not had those done yet? It's been years? What could be the hold up? If I understood correctly, a completed HGMP could provide catch and release opportuniies, with hooks, on many rivers that have been closed for years? Looked up, https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/management/hatcheries/hgmp, and none seem to be in the works for steelhead?


RnG,

HGMPs cover the operation of hatcheries that might have ESA impacts. The Skagit steelhead season is covered by a river specific Resource Management Plan (RMP) that addresses the impacts of the steelhead CNR season and the treaty tribes' test fishing and other fishing on the ESA-listed wild steelhead population. The first plan covered 5 years, 2018 - 2022. It was renewed for 10 years this last season to cover 2023 - 2033. RMPs have not been developed for other rivers for 2 reasons. First, no one is telling WDFW staff to do it, and second, none of the other Puget Sound rivers have wild steelhead populations that are meeting or exceeding escapement goals. So WDFW has little incentive to prepare plans for rivers where a fishing season isn't likely to be allowed to occur.