Rivrguy, I think we pretty much agree. While development pressure in the Puget Sound region will continue to be relentless, I think it is possible to retain quite a bit of the remaining productive capacity of many basin river systems. I look at the Skagit system over the last 30 to 40 years - we've lost a little, and we've gained a little, but I think overall it's capacity for salmonid productivity hasn't changed much. Look at the Nisqually, at the southern end. It's one of the most intact river systems in Puget Sound. It's major liability is that its salmon and steelhead have to run the longest predation gauntlet of any of the rivers, but its freshwater productivity is quite good.

We could give salmon a better chance by letting more of the wild fish survive to spawn. And WDFW is on the wrong side of that equation. Hence, you see me posting in your Chehalis River thread and others: "Defund WDFW." Truly, I do think we should have a fish and wildlife agency, but we should have an agency that is more responsive to the resource and to the constituents who fund the agency.