GBL -
Let's think about this a moment. We have been talking about the ESA listing of Puget Sound steelhead. Remember that this is the second time that they had been petitioned for listing under ESA. With the first listing the feds determined in 1994 that PS steelhead did not warrant listing. What has changed since that time?

Most would have to agree that both tribal and recreational impacts on wild steelhead in the period between the mid-1990s and mid-2000s had been substantially less than the pervious 2 decades. It seems to me that blaming either fishery is a very large reach to account for the change in status for PS steelhead. There just were not enough fish being killed (especially when compared to the 1970s and 80s) to account for the change in status.

The one factor that did occur in that period has been a significant decline in marine survival for winer steelhead returning to the Georgia Basin/Puget Sound. That coupled with the loss of habitat placed the resource in trouble.

I know that you don't feel that habitat is much of an issue but all the assessments that I have seen would indicate otherwise. Take your home river where the historic capacity and productivity has been seriously compromised. Historically the second largest steelhead tribuatary of the Skagit was likely the Baker. Today the hydro complex on that system has all but eliminated its steelhead. As a long time fisher of the Skagit I think you would have to agree that the major tribs have been serious impacted by logging. In addition to the Sauk basin the side tribs of the Skagit that were major sapwning tribs included Diosbud, Illabot, Finney, Day, Jackman, Hansen, Alder , etc. All of those named as well as a host of other smaller streams habitats have been seriously compromised.

For steelhead with their extent freshwater rearing their habitat requirements are pretty complex. Typcially the most limiting factor is the lack of complex habitat sturctures that would provide safe over-wintering habitat for the young fry and parr. They need that habitat to survive the winter floods and to provide a safe heaven from predators.

We need to keep in mind that the habitat in the Skagit is by far in the best shape of any of the Puget Sound systems with many of the other basins have substantailly less productive habitat.

While it may be the easy way to blame over fsihing by the tribes the reality is that the info from the last decade does not support that case. Rather for any substantial increase in steelhead returns we will likely need to see increases in the quality of their habitats or better marine survivals. For long term population stability and any hope of future fishinig by anyone improvements in both areas will be needed.

Tight lines
Curt