Smalma ... What is the reasoning behind a streambed that becomes less stable having decreased produtvity?

Perhaps we put the brakes on the all the rip-rapping projects that have taken place there. If straightening the riiver has that much effect, why would WDFW and Hoh tribe allow the number of projects to take place that have in recent years?

Techinally, if the river is shorter, then why would productivity go down. That would in theory increase gradient. You've stated that rivers with steeper gradients support more parr.

Lots of factors obviously come into play ... yet in most cases we're working with decades old modeling. I seem to recall that any changes in WDFW escpaement goals have always been down and never up ... bucking the trend of other regions. Why would that be?