Robert - I've read a little about the Keogh success story and must say that that succes can be summed up in three words.

habitat! - Habitat!! - HABITAT!!!

Read on...

Abstract: "Declivity in steelhead, Oncorhynchus mykiss, recruitment at the Keogh River over the past decade" - Bruce R. Ward

"Survival and return of unharvested winter-run steelhead, Oncorhynchus mykiss, at the Keogh River, British Columbia, declined abruptly and remained persistently low after 1990. Adult returns averaged 1168 fish from 1976 to 1990 but were significantly lower from 1991 to 1998 (mean 223). Forty wild females returned to the 35-km river in 1995-1996, 20 in 1996-1997, and less than 10 in 1997-1998. The positive linear relationship between smolts and returns was significantly lower after 1990 and no longer correlated with smolt size. Smolt-to-adult survival averaged 15% (1976 to 1989) but recently averaged 3.5% (1990 to 1995). Smolt number steadily declined to less than 1000 by 1998 from an average annual count of 7000. Smolts per spawner from 1991 to 1994 were, on average, 70% lower than previous estimates based on the same spawner abundance. Recruitment scenarios based on survival histories during freshwater and marine life stages indicated that adult recruits are currently below replacement and unsustainable if conditions continue or worsen. Factors influencing steelhead in the ocean and freshwater are likely similar for other salmonids; harvest impacts must be reduced and appropriate stock rebuilding measures implemented."

Read Also:
Keogh River Demonstration Site

"The Keogh River is the key evaluation project located on northeast coast of Vancouver Island near the communities of Port Hardy and Port McNeill. The Keogh drains into Queen Charlotte Strait after flowing through the Nawhitti Lowlands for 33 km from Keogh Lake. Due to the long-term research that has occurred here, the Keogh has become BC Environment's foremost aquatic demonstration site for British Columbia's Watershed Restoration Program (WRP). It is used to instruct restoration professionals on proper techniques for restoring fish habitat. WRP demonstration sites have been developed to demonstrate techniques used in the watershed restoration program by providing hands-on training to professional, technical and field personnel. They are also used to provide tours and public information.

Since 1996, the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks has managed approximately $800,000 in the aquatic restoration of the Keogh River plus a further $200,00 for hillslope and riparian work. Approximately 500 structures have been constructed to replace natural large wood that was lost due to past logging to streambanks in 55% of the riparian areas. A total of 68 instream restoration structures were built during the 98/99 season. A majority of this involved the creation of new fish habitat.

The river is a spawning/nursery ground for Steelhead, Coho, Pink, Chum and Cutthroat trout and Dolly Varden. An abundance of these species had declined as a result of past logging practices.

The entire river has been fertilized with slow-release nutrients to replace nutrients lost by the sharply reduced abundance of salmon carcasses.

In the spring of 1999, Coho and Steelhead smolt migrations more than doubled from the previous year. Other species, less-targeted, have also increased in abundance as a result of restoration.

By the spring of 2000, Coho smolt numbers continued to increase by another 50% to 75,000 smolts, slightly more than their historical average abundance. Potential benefits to returns of adult pink salmon (adults were 60,000 declining to 10,000) should be evident by the summer/fall of 2000. Steelhead smolts only increased marginally this spring, but the abundance of their fry in the river indicates they will also reach historical abundance in the next two years."

Is their something that I am missing?