Here are some answers to all of your replies

Billy Bob; Do you really think that WDFW has keep this unnamed "scientific study" a secret for over 20 years? If so, why would they have allowed the COE to interfere with this "natural process" and allowed the man made interference of the sediment dam that dramatically changed the "natural" recovery of the Toutle for ever?

4Salt; 1) I did ask one of the leading long standing Biologist for this area why we had the closer; his answer was "I don't know why it's closed, but who would want to keep one of those dark old things anyway and that he had only heard one other complaint about this issue." It is my understanding that there is a new WDFW study that will start next year to see what the success of smolt survival passage is over and thru the sediment dam. 2) their must be lots of money available because the Core of Army Engineers just finished a huge study of the long term effects of the Toutle River and it's sediment effects on the lower Cowlitz and Columbia River. 3) The money most likely would come from the COE. 4) You asked; Do you honestly believe that there is an on-going conspiracy at WDFW to pit wild fish advocates against harvest-minded anglers, and if so, why? My answer is probably so! WDFW must be held responsible for their management decisions. Until someone with the authority from WDFW can explain the logic or reasoning for this closer, that is my opinion. 5) You also asked; while it is easy to point fingers at WDFW and claim incompetence, do you honestly think that this is the case? Yes, I do! I personally know numerous WDFW staff and have worked with WDFW for numerous years. Not all WDFW employees are "incompetent", but there are a bunch of them that are! You need to look no further then the Director himself and his key staff! I need to look no further then the part that the head management played in the "Settlement Agreement" that WDFW signed with Tacoma Power… what a joke!! And finally, you said "rest-assured that someone, somewhere does, and stupidity is probably not the impetus." Well they (WDFW) have their chance through this thread to prove me wrong, don't they!

Salmo g; As usual, you have been around WDFW long enough to known what really goes on!
Yes, I did ask our regional Biologist (you know who) and he could not give me the answer either. You make a "good point" about natural spawning in Alder Cr. and Elk Cr., but if that is the case, how in the world could WDFW known what was native stock and what was hatchery stock? Since all Chinook on the Green River Hatchery are left with their adipose fin attached and are unmarked, how could they possibly known if they are passing native stocks into those 2 rivers? Wouldn't that be against the WDFW "Wild Salmonoid Policy"? If not, then why not use hatchery stock fish for recovery in every river system? Finally, you said "And of course, it could be that there is no biological reason for the regulation. Wouldn't be the first time." As usual, you know what you are talking about!

Barnettm; If it smells like a rat, has a tail like a rat, has hair like a rat, has beaded eyes like a rat, it can only means one of two thinks. It's either a "rat" or it's a "possum" in disguise!

Robert Allen3; they also need to fire a few of those "bio's" too!

CedarR; you got it!!

Periwinkle; You asked "are they selling the 'surplus' chinooks to the cat food people or others for a WDF profit? They may very well be! I stopped by the Green River Hatchery on Wednesday and they were loading up the trucks to take fish to the "food banks" They didn't say if those fish were Chinook or Coho, but if they are doing that with the Chinook run, how in the heck could they possibly tell wild Chinook from hatchery Chinook when neither are marked?


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