Plunker,

You said, "The runs of wild Puget Saound Chinook are not endangered nor are they listed as endangered under the ESA . They are in fact doing quite well lately, even showing an increasing trend in their numbers."

Isn't that a bit misleading? True, they are not endangered nor listed as such. However, wild Puget Sound chinook salmon are listed as threatened under the ESA. A couple of years of improved returns (due almost entirely to higher marine survival) does not a trend make. The long term trend (measured over 5, 10, or 20 year increments) is clearly declining. When PS chinook are consistently abundant in years of low marine survival, then I'll agree that their continued existence is not imperiled.

Sincerely,

Salmo g.