Thanks salmo,

I was aware that the first Inflow Working agreement, I think the first of it's kind, was made in 1991 alocating something around $26 million in fish and wildlife mitigation on the Skagit.

I'm told that about 4 years ago (2001) there were negotiations including members of an Instream Flow Committee that agreed upon utilizing mitigation funds for hatchrey steelhead production. That comes from a member of the committee.

Perhaps you can get to the bottom of what all the secret negotiations were all about and how the Swinomish tribe ended up with the hatchery costs saved plus the additional $55,000 to be used for Habitat Improvement Studies?