CFM,

Yikes! Careful what statements you attribute to me. I don't think WDFW is phasing OUT the early winter run. My understanding is that if hatchery production is to be reduced, WDFW has decided the main reduction will come from the early winter steelhead program. In the ESA section 10 permit NMFS wrote for the Cowlitz and other lower Columbia hatcheries, I think WDFW was advised to increase production of late winter runs for the steelhead recovery program. There is still a lot of opportunity for early winter steelhead hatchery production. The main limitation is that the early steelhead cannot be transported to the upper river basin for natural spawning because of stock genetic issues.

There are other changes WDFW could make that would continue a productive early steelhead fishery. Maintaining the hatchery coho program at 4.3 million smolts to prop up the lower Columbia River gillnet fishery should come to a halt. That fishery is about as relevant as a dinosaur, but change doesn't seem to come easy. That program could be cut back to just augment the ocean coho fishery, with the return going to the river recreational fishery and escapement. The gillnet fishery is obsolete. Mind you, I'm not against gillnet fishing when and where it makes sense. But the lower Columbia gillnet fishery helps prevent recovery of wild coho and other runs. That is why I think it should be cut back and the hatchery space it uses should be re-allocated to other production.

We'll get there, CFM, but you know all the good changes only come with a long fight.

Sincerely,

Salmo g.