Cowlitzfisherman -
The genetic diversity we find in wild steelhead is the direct result of the diverse habitats in which they live. As we simplify habitats we are simplifying the fish. It would not be of much value other than to document what has been lost to have samples from diverse populations if there aren't diverse habitats in which they can exist and habitats that continue the selection process of natural selection.

Our anadromous salmonids, including steelhead evolved over 10.000s of years in very dynamic river systems. Over the last 150 years we as a society have done our best to make our systems as static as possible. The Cowltiz downstream of the dams is an obivious example of where all our rivers are headed. If we accepted your position that it is inevitable that is where our rivers are headed then what is the point of preserving the genetic diversity of what was?

If we reduce our rivers to mere ditches in which to transport our fish to and from the hatcheries and the marine waters then diversity isn't needed. Any fish injected in such a system will quickly evolve into just another hatchery fish - that is what is one successful in spawning and rearing in a hatchery and quickly making out to sea and back.

While don't I disagree with your position -in fact it is pretty clear that we as a society put little value on wild steelhead and wild rivers I refuse to give up entirely. By fighting tooth and nail to preserve habitats and slow the rate of their destruction we may be able to prolong the time that wild resources remain in this state and perhaps, just perhaps some future generation will have different values other than fullfilling their immediate needs.

Robert Allen 3-
The collection of genetic material today just requires just a fin clip (a piece smaller than your little fingernail is all that is needed). This can and has been done with live fish with little jeopardy to the fish (other than the capture). Your pessimistic bias towards managment agencies seems to be mis-placed.

Could not agree more than efforts that pull or diverting us from protecting habitats is likely to be counterproductive to maintaining wild salmonids. That is exactly why I have little patience with this continued harping on no killing of wild steelhead and hatchery bashing. While both of those can be of importance and deserve discussion their siginificance pales in comparison to the larger habitat issues. Wild and productive wild populations can and have developed in functioning habitats but without functioning habitats the wild fish and hatchery debates are moot!

If we reduce our steelhead fishing to only environments like the Colwlitz with only hatchery fish (regardless of their genetic makeup) then we have lost much of what makes this part of the world special. If I can't fish in wild dynamic rivers with naturally produced salmonids then I might as well be bass or carp fishing. While I find nearly all forms of fishing enjoyable (there aren't many fishermen any more eclectic as myself) being able to wade a wild river with the potential of connecting with a naturally produced fish is special to me.

Tight lines
Smalma