Capitol Lake was mostly over with before I arrived in the area in 1999. I do remember a co-worker bringing in a bronzed-up king he had caught somewhere near the highway bridge and being kind of impressed circa 2002. Probably a mid-20s fish, and for all I knew at the time, it was quite the trophy. We have lost a lot, even since folks like me showed up around the turn of the century.

I guess the decision has been made to return Capitol Lake to its original state as a natural estuary. Not sure I'll get to see the finished restoration in my lifetime, but I'm glad there is intent to restore the flushing capacity the Deschutes drainage once provided to the South Sound. It was never an anadromous fish factory (the falls are a natural barrier), but it's good to know the plan is to restore the estuary. Hopefully, the South Sound will be cleaner a few years down the road, and that could only help fisheries at points north.