So, if there was no data collected for wild broodstocking, why would they do it every year?

Maybe, It was very effective in changing and abetting the Steelhead run timing. Get the fish coming back late in the season, then close down the late seasons to recreational fishing access.

Viola, no hatchery early timed fish to mess with the tribes netting, and no one fishing the later run wild only fish.

Measuring the broodstocking program for succes was not in the program’s project management’s set of deliverables, however it sure got everyone in the recreational angling groups excited enuff to volunteer, support with free help and boats hoping to get fish back to their rivers.

What it got as a measurable deliverable was late season closures.

Failing Project Management 101...