They have DNA material from mammoths and dinosaurs, and they've been "gone" a lot longer than the pre-hatchery native steelhead. DNA can be extracted from very minute pieces of tissue, even preserved tissue, so I think there would be a good chance to obtain the necessary DNA samples from SOMEWHERE.

The issue that concerns me isn't gentetic dilution, but the competition between smolts. Competition between smolts and the effects large numbers of hatchery smolts have on the survival rates of native smolts is an issue that hasn't been studied enough.


Interesting topic. I think it's outrageous that the WDFW would need to rely on a study done by a (very intelligent) high schooler. This is the kind of study THEY should be doing around the state. If any intelligent decision is going to be made about managing our fisheries for both native survival AND some harvest opportunity, then studies like this need to be done FIRST. If I was in college admissions, that young lady would be getting a call from MY office