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In a September 2024 legal settlement, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) agreed with conservation groups to close the segregated winter steelhead hatchery program at the Washougal River. The agreement is part of a broader effort to reduce the impact of hatchery fish on wild salmon and steelhead populations in the Lower Columbia River.
The settlement was reached after a lawsuit from the Wild Fish Conservancy and The Conservation Angler alleged that hatchery fish were spawning with wild fish at levels that violate federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) standards.

Key components of the settlement
Hatchery closures and reductions: WDFW agreed to several actions that modify hatchery releases:
Washougal Winter Steelhead Program: The segregated winter steelhead program in the Washougal River basin will be terminated. However, WDFW plans to pursue a new program using native steelhead stock.
Deep River Coho Program: The coho salmon program at the Deep River net pens will be closed.
Kalama River Chinook Program: Releases of fall Chinook salmon from the Fallert Creek hatchery on the Kalama River will be reduced.
Protection from future litigation: In return for the changes, the conservation groups provided WDFW with protection from further lawsuits over the same alleged ESA violations for a specified period.
Increased transparency: The settlement requires WDFW to make more information about its hatchery programs publicly available.
Legal fee reimbursement: WDFW agreed to reimburse the conservation groups for their legal and expert witness fees.

Implications and context
Impact on wild fish: Conservation groups argued that the genetic interbreeding of hatchery fish with native stocks was harming the survival and recovery of wild, endangered fish. The settlement is seen as a way to better protect wild fish genetics.
Shift in management: The deal reflects a shift towards focusing on integrated hatchery programs that use a portion of native fish for broodstock, helping to preserve local genetics.
Gap in fishing opportunity: The transition to a new native-stock program in the Washougal River will likely create a temporary reduction in hatchery steelhead returns, impacting recreational fisheries.
Ongoing tensions: While the settlement resolves the immediate lawsuit, it does not fully end the long-running debate between those who view hatcheries as essential for conservation and harvest and those who see them as detrimental to wild fish populations.