Pug,

There's no doubt that the existing habitat has to be protected... but the decades of severe habitat loss that is already out there needs to be addressed, too, espeically in situations like the Stilly where the stream's productivity is almost eliminated due to exising problems.

Protecting the bit of habitat that is left needs to happen, but reversing the severe habitat destruction will take some serious political will that I think is probably absent right now. Lots of lip service paid to it, but even the most draconian restrictions on development and resource extraction do nothing but slow down the destruction of the existing habitat, and do nothing to reverse the destruction that has happened.

Like Steve said above, so long as the population is growing and considers Wal-Marts and strip malls, apartment complexes, and giant subdivisions a good idea, then it's all just delaying the inevitable extinction of most species that rely on rivers...especially Chinook and steelhead.

Fish on...

Todd