Regarding estuaries - Clearly the filling of our estuaries have had impacts on the various salmonid stocks. However all the information that is available indicates that steelhead spend very little time in the esturary. They basically move quickly on downstream and out into the open marine waters. The larger the smolts (steelhead are typcially the largest smolts in a basin) the less time they spend in the estuary. They achieve their early growth in the river; thus are more depend on the freshwater habitat. However the estuary and near shore areas are critical for fish like chinook, pinks and chums.

Rich - given your concern about returns are suggesting that we all voluntarily not fish the system for the rest of the season? Given your worst case assumptions even releasing all the "nates" may not be enough. I'm sure we all will be watching the "reports" from the next several weeks with interest and concern.

tight lines
Smalma