actually, didn't mean to start an issue.

But in regards to the Sammamish River, it was a case of two man-made problems.

The first was decimating the sea lions during the past century and then over-protecting them.

The second was building a locks which is an unnatural barrier for fish.

This barrier held up this run of steelhead from easily continuing their journey to the Cedar, Sammamish, Bear Cr., Issaquah Cr. etc.

Without intervention from man again, the totally protected sea lions trapped the fish up against a barrier with no escape route. The run size was in the thousands each year and over a few years of sea lion infestation, the run was drastically reduced to the point of virtual elimination.

Now, fishing is banned on the Sammamish. Sure, other factors helped reduce this run like in other rivers....but in this case, it is clear man's impact and the reluctance to intervene again was the culprit. What other choices were there in this particular scenario?

It's not an issue anymore cuz the damage was done and the fish and sportsmen lost this one big time.