Smalma......It is becoming clear to me that many of us use the same words, but have entirely different perspectives, based on what we see in our own environment.

Habitat is one of those words that drives me up a wall, because of the extremist view points attached to that word. Another one is riparian zones, wetlands, etc. From what I have seen, the most volatile viewpoints are held by people living on lots in cities. The same people who demand that farmers can't sell their land to developers because city folks want to be able to see a cow. It is a NIMBY attitude, that precludes the possibility of farmers to improve their lot in life. And for this, the land owner gets to pay taxes for other peoples enjoyment, not his/hers.

I see you are from Woodinville. I used climb through the barbed wire fences to catch bass in the farmer's ponds in Woodinville. Likely close to where someone's house is now........perhaps yours. Now you want to talk about saving the environment and the sanctity of the wild strain of steelhead.

I have a suggestion to all who want to really do something substantial. Buy land along streams, lakes, wetlands.....pay the taxes on them (don't shirk the load off on the rest of us by jumping into a land trust) and then see that your land is in the best shape you can make it. That's saving something.

I am a land owner rights advocate (fancy that ). I am also a wildlife enthusiast who has lived in Western Wa. for almost 50 years. I am not anti-gun, anti-growth, or anti-hatchery.

The answer is simple......good stewardship. I take care of the stream that runs by my place and I get incredible joy watching the steelhead and salmon spawn there. I, personally, wouldn't damage that stream for anything, but that doesn't mean all who live by streams understand streams. I'm sure some of you folks see streams and rivers that have been trashed by industry and dense development. Fortunately, it is not that way here.

There is no stopping people from moving here, and that is where the problem lies.....how do we deal with all the additional pressure on the sport we all love? I don't have the answer, but I do know it is not going to be solved by bickering.

Best Regards to All and Happy Fishin'