Fair enough Salmo G.

First off Salmo, I disagree with you about gripping on this BB. Isn't this the best way to inform fishermen (the people who really care and fish the Cowlitz) what's really happening behind closed doors? To many people, for way to long, have been left standing on the sidelines having no ideal what so ever what the hell was going on in the Cowlitz relicensing process. As you know, many BB readers assumed that the FOC and other groups like CPR-Fish would have had some say in the final settlement agreement. As you well know, that was not the outcome. You also know about the slime that was brought forth by the Tacoma's mediator against CPR-Fish so that they would be eliminated from the game in the final ending.

To not allow the uninformed public to see just how screwed-up this settlement really is would be is unconscionable to me. With that being said, I will attempt to answer your questions. Your first question to me was" What is it specifically that you want out of this that isn't included in the settlement agreement and probably new license?" Salmo G., It's not what "I" want out of this settlement agreement and new license, it's what the other hundreds of thousands of fishermen in Washington want! Why not ask this forum what they want? Government employees just can't say in tune with us common folks, can they? The picture is much bigger then just you or I. That is why the public must know what is going down before it has already gone down!

You say that it won't do any good to "grip at the agencies and Tacoma". In my opinion, you are dead wrong! The last time I checked our system of government, that's the only way we get and make changes in our country. You say that the federal Power Act requires Tacoma to provide full mitigation for adverse effects of the impacts of its hydro project. Well before I answer that question, what section in the FPA are you specific referring to? You then state "If everything goes perfect that (which I doubt), there will be restored wild runs passing above the dams and hatchery runs will provide us with harvestable fish every year and especially when the wild ones don't." I don't follow you on that one because you have already stated on this BB how you felt about that issue when you stated; "Personally, I think the fishery became doomed when the wild runs were wiped out by the dams in the late 60s and early 70s". So how are these new drummed up, doomed "wild runs" going to save our sport fishery now?

Salmo G, you say that Tacoma is on "hook". The only problem with that is that the hook is "barb-less"! What is there to stop Tacoma from walking away from this settlement when they become unhappy with it…FERC? What action has FERC ever taken against Tacoma in the last 30 years?

How did NMFS and USFWS address the 14,000 fall adult chinook that used to spawn above the Dams in this settlement agreement? Did NMSF or USFW service ask for, or demand-trapping facilities that would collect fall chinook migrants above the dams? I think not! You knew that they were listed as "threatened species". Did NMFS or USFWS ask for or demand that the "early coho" stocks that originally spawned above the dams be addressed in the settlement agreement…I think not!

It's a little late to be asking us now "what is it" you want! I ask you Salmo G., why didn't NMFS and USFWS list the upper Cowlitz as "critical habitat" for fall chinook when they knew that at least 14,000 adults used to use that area for natural spawning and production? The settlement agreement doesn't even address that issue because it will cost Tacoma big bucks and you know it! Why was this issue not addressed in the settlement negotiations?

The more this BB can see and read, the more questions the agencies will have to give us answers. to! Salmo G, you have the ability to make changes to the settlement agreement in you Biological Assessment of Tacoma's BA.
Take the giant step forward and make the difference. And yes, after all this is over, I will still consider you a friend. We just have different opinions on how to restore the Cowlitz River fishery.

Cowlitzfisherman,


Is the taste of the bait worth the sting of the hook????