This is not a done deal yet. WDF&W have always stuck by the commercial netters and ODF&W has leaned toward helping the sportfishing entity. They were studying 5 options for splitting the 2% Fed ESA impact (determines allocation) on Columbia springers between the commercials and sporties. They wound up being pressured into a switch around from last years allocations to favor the netters. But it's not stamped yet! The meeting in Olympia and in Oregon City on Feb 5th may still swing the decide ODF&W vote back in favor of the sportfishermen (who pay for these hatchery fish, I might add).

Of course the Indian netters get a 13% impact for their "50-50" allocation. But that outrage is another whole big story!

Spawnout was right on with his post above. Write letters to the two state's Reps and legislators. Tell them a couple hundred thousand votes are finally going to swing against them if they keep siding with the commercial netters, instead of on the side of saving wild fish and on the side of sport fishers that pay by far the most per capita toward hatchery funding. Like he posted, it only takes a few moments. Much less time than tying up a few leaders! Washington reps have the most need for a wake up call. Here ya go:

Federal Senator
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Senator Patty Murray (Democrat-WA)
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510-0001
Phone: (202) 224-2621
Fax: (202) 224-0238
WebSite: http://murray.senate.gov/
E-Mail : http://murray.senate.gov/email/index.cfm

Senator Maria Cantwell (Democrat-WA)
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510-0001
Phone: (202) 224-3441
Fax: (202) 228-0514
WebSite: http://cantwell.senate.gov/
E-Mail : http://cantwell.senate.gov/contact/index.html

Federal Representative
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Representative Brian Baird (Democrat-03)
United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-3536
Fax: (202) 225-3478
WebSite: http://www.house.gov/baird/
E-Mail : http://www.house.gov/baird/zipauth.htm

State Senator
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Senator Joseph Zarelli (Republican-018)
P.O. Box 40418
Olympia, WA 98504-0418
Phone: (360) 786-7634
Fax: (360) 786-7173
WebSite: http://www.leg.wa.gov/senate/members/senmem18.htm
E-Mail : zarelli_jo@leg.wa.gov

State Representative
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Representative Tom Mielke (Republican-018)
P.O. Box 40600
Olympia, WA 98504-0600
Phone: (360) 786-7850
Fax: (360) 786-1066
WebSite: http://www.leg.wa.gov/house/members/d18_1.htm
E-Mail : mielke_th@leg.wa.gov

Representative Ed Orcutt (Republican-018)
P.O. Box 40600
Olympia, WA 98504-0600
Phone: (360) 786-7812
Fax: (360) 786-1066
WebSite: http://www.leg.wa.gov/house/members/d18_2.htm
E-Mail : orcutt_ed@leg.wa.gov

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US Representatives
http://www.oregon.gov/index.cfm?CurrPID=840

US Senators
http://www.oregon.gov/index.cfm?CurrPID=839