Smalma,
So...if:
Those [escapement] goals are typically set based on the best information available at the time. As new information is developed we periodically see the goals reviewed and if needed new ones established.
and...
I believe the MSY goal for the Quillayute steelhead is 5,900. The fact the several years the escapement has consistently been over 10,000 belies your concern that the management is designed to catch every last harvestable fish.
and...
Rather the excellent steelhead population on the Quillayutte system is most likely due to near ideal steelhead habitats whose headwaters remain virtually intact.
and...
The winter steelhead escapement goal on the Snohomish is 6,500 fish however current run sizes with no fishing and parent escapements at the goal have been less than 3,000. Here the under-escapement is near the carrying capacity
...how much more time or resources is required to adjust these escapement goals to reflect the actual in-the-river conditions? Or, rather, would it be more precise to ask, at least in the case of the Quillayute, how much politics vs. science is used to set escapement goals?
It certainly doesn't seem that the Quillayute's e-goal is set on either the best available information or has it been periodically updated as more information has become available. You noted above that having escapements of around 10K, with an e-goal of 5,900, belies Doc's concern that harvest is where the management policies start and end, but what other reason could exist for maintaining such a low escapement level, with a corresponding high harvestable component, in the face of consistent escapements at a level higher than what the rivers "should" be able to handle?
Also, what is the reason for the assessment that the Skykomish escapement is set well over carrying capacity? What has changed, habitat-wise, that significantly in such a short time? I don't know the breakdown of mainstem spawners vs. tributary spawners in that system, but it seems to me that the N.Fk. has maintained pretty good conditions, and that miles of good spawning territory has been added to the system by the use of fish traps and truck passage over the falls on the S. Fk..
Lastly,
I believe that federal courts have interpretated escapement goals under Boldt to be at MSY level rather than minimal viability level (Puget Sound Salmon Management plan).
I don't think the federal courts interpreted escapement under the Boldt decision that way, I think that the co-managers agreed to not define it that way in the PSSMP, and that the feds signed off on that aqreement as being allowed under the Boldt decision.
As usual, thanks for your time.
Fish on...
Todd
P.S. Have you heard the latest news with the SIRC and the Steelhead Heaven slide?
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