Salmo

You have stated; "But Tacoma may not (legally) operate the project without a license. FERC licenses contain terms and conditions."

If what you say is true Salmo, how can Tacoma operate their Cowlitz Project currently? Is it not true that Tacoma's new license is still on hold pending their 401 Permit? Is it also not true that Tacoma can not be issued a license by FERC until they are issued the 401 Permit? Do they not operate their projects now on a temporary basis? Correct me if wrong, but isn't it true that FERC is authorized to issue "None Power Licenses"? Is it not also true that the Tacoma Cowlitz River Project could have been recommended to congress to issue a "Federal Government Takeover of the Project? At lease BPA attempts to restore fish in their projects!

One more issue that needs to be replied to; you said "So yes, hatchery production by Tacoma may decrease as natural production increases. Without that condition there would be no incentive for Tacoma to restore natural salmon and steelhead production in the upper river basin. But the combined total of natural and hatchery production must equal or exceed the benchmark values, that is as many chinook, coho, and steelhead as would exist if the project were not there. What more could anyone justifiably ask of Tacoma? That answer is pretty darn simple!! Like most things NMFS took the "Cramer report" at its face value.

Was it not Tacoma that paid Creamer to develop that report?

That report simply supported your own agency newest view about hatchery fish. My earlier conversations with WDFW staff accerted that the "Creamer report" was full of BS! Why those "staff members" never made their assertions public during the relicensing process still puzzles me. But nothing WDFW does anymore really surprises me.

I know that it is way above your agency to think of such a horrible thought, but why didn't they demand Tacoma to make up the 30 years of failing to meet thier fish migration in the 1967 Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery Agreement before your agency approved the issue of a new 35 year license? Yes I can hear your reply already… FERC will not allow us to ask for that. Tell us why your agency couldn't have asked Tacoma to do that during the 6years prior to relicensing! Remember, your agency knew about that agreement and gave their approval of it at the time!

Finally, you said; "P.S: I won't count on receiving your vote for anything tho."

Salmo, maybe my mind is failing me, but didn't I vote to have you chair the Fishery Technical Committee (FTC) during the entire relicensing process???

Cowlitzfisherman

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