I have to think it is a good program, You reduce the risk of true hatchery fish mixing with the wild fish in the system. the offspring from the hatchery have Wild parents and are allowed to reproduce in the wild as no hatchery returning broodstock are bred from, So if 500 return through the guantlet to the trap I think this is 500 I know will have a chance to reproduce in the Wild enviroment. But as you state the Wild fish that are taken might be depleting the resource. But They could also be spawning in the bigger channels and there eggs lost in high or low water as the gravel shifts. So with the program I know that 55 pairs will be putting appox 180k smolt back into the system. And after the summers yearling checks you are not able to tell the difference between the wild or broodstock yearlings except one is fin clipped for the resource. No true hatchery fish mixing and weakening the wild gene. So on the river I participate in so far it appears to be helping as it has continued to meet it's escapement and increase as well, And also provide a good per-say wild resource for the people who would like to take something home. But remember everything hooked and released in this program give back positive Wild benifits to the System. Just my thoughts.