Smalma is right on. Harvest is even more heavily regulated than it used to be, huge steps are being taken to lessen hatchery management impacts on naturally produced populations and increases in run size of many depressed populations have been evident in recent years.

But if we do not make proportionate strides in habitat improvement we are doomed to repeat the down-cycles of the 80's and 90's. There are examples out there where we can point to and say "we need to do some of that where I live" when it comes to habitat. But there are too many local jurisdictions that do not want to alter their codes and ordinacces to protect fish and wildlife habitat in fear that some unrecoverable economic downturn will result.

There are no easy answers. But there are opportunities for county, city and small town policy people to step up to the plate and demonstrate some real leadership in the habitat protection and imporovement arena. There are actually some of these folks doing the job. But many, many more need to get on the bandwagon.