Snake River fish are as healthy as ever????????

After reading this statement a couple of times, where are you conjuring the data? Certainly the total steelhead return has been great the past couple of seasons. As well the "Wild" portion has increased to its highest levels since Dworshak and Lower Granite came on line. Salmon levels too have increased greatly.

The point here is that these runs are artificially inflated from hatchery smolts. The previous 10 year average of "WILD" steelhead returns are but a pathetic 3% to 10% of predevelopment size. Healthy??? Do your homework before relaxing into thinking all is well. With the recent water years and El Nino kicking back up these runs will quickly be right back to where they were in '95 and '96. The only change that has taken place is all mother nature. Better reproductive survival on the redds and an ocean that has flat produced fish are responsible for the population growth.

Coho are extinct (Since the early 80's) and sockeye are functionally extinct. Several remaining races of wild chinook are also being captive reared to save the genetics. The remaining wild B run steelhead have been slow to react to this high point in survival.

All I can say is to pray the anodromous populations grow enough while its good to withstand the next round of poor water/ocean conditions.

Dams are not good.