Salmo

As you know, I have done my homework on the fish runs of the Cowlitz. So I will use the Cowlitz as an example to show the readers what numbers are used to represent the portion or number of fish that lead up to the what some refer as the "peak" of a run of native steelhead. It will then be easyer for them to compare "peak" numbers to that of the fish that return through out the normal run timing of native steelhead.

The problem is glaring!

Beforee 1950, the Cowlitz received hatchery plant similar to other rivers in the state. Even though it received hatchery plants, the true native run started in med November. The first record of hatchery planed steelhead occurred in 1938. In 1947, creel records showed that Native steelhead return fairly early in the Cowlitz. Creel checks showed that 27.2% of fish retuned in December, 15.2% retuned in January, 11.2% returned in February, 30.4% in March and only 15.2 % in April.

I suspect that this pretty much represented the native run timing in most other river too.

That means that about 50.6% of the natives returned before March. Salmo, I had noticed in the comments that were sent in by BPA on the BiOp that they had stated that there is a biological theory that for every year that a fish was reared in a hatchery, it would take as least the same amount of time for a natural reared fish to genetically adapt to its natural environment again. If that is true, then many of those rivers that you are referring to which had hatchery influences and interactions would take at least 30 to 40 years to recover, and that's if they were to shop all hatchery plants today.

I am afraid, that those wild steelhead runs are just as doomed as the runs that they are now trying to reestablish on the Cowlitz. They have waited way to long in my opinion to recovery the genetics that it will take for recovery. Add onto that, the lack of spawning grounds, degraded habitat, and all the other good stuff that man adds to the big picture, and ain't looking good buddy!

I wish I was wrong, but deep down inside, you know as well as I do, it over for those wild run in the coming years. It just a matter of time before the last one dies in a net, by a hook, or in the jaws of a seal. The count down has already started an people don't even know it!

Cowlitzfisherman