The problem appears to be a result of many factors. The Nisqually, for instance, runs through the base and much of the water shed is protected. The areas gets some fairly large pink returns some years, along with fairly good returns of other salmon. They are spending millions recovering the tributaries of the upper water shed. Yet after no fishing for years, the steelhead do not appear to have recovered. One issue appears to be the draw down of water from wells, lowering tributary levels and increasing the water temperature and taking away rearing areas. Then, they have the issues of the South Sound. I would be interesting to take some hatchery reared steelhead from this area, then barge them out to see, and see what type of return comes back. By reducing more and more variables, then adding some back, we could eventually pinpoint what the greatest issues are. Obviously, though, fishing is not the most limiting at this time.