When I first heard about these programs, I was excited about a new way we could "help" our ailing native steelhead stocks. But as I have studied the issue in more detail, I am haunted by the reality of what is actually being accomplished.

The folks that run these programs should be accountable to answer a few questions.

Is the purpose of these programs to help rebuild wild fish populations? Or is it mainly to obtain high quality parental stock for the hatchery programs?

Since the progeny are clipped, doesn't that mean that basically we are mining the river for wild eggs to supply hatcheries that eventually create returning adults that are available for harvest? Aren't we really just diverting wild fish from their natural habitat and compromising their natural productivity? And for what? To prop up artificial propagation that produces fewer returning adults than would natural production? Worse yet, if they are clipped, aren't these returning adults susceptible to harvest?

While they might give us a "feel good" sense, are we really doing wild fish populations any favors with such programs?