Greetings,
First time user , please have patience. I composed and proposed this program change to the legislators listed at end of letter. Now I am asking everyone to contact their local legislator as well as WDFW management. I work for you. This is your agency and your resource. If you don't fight for it, it may well be lost. State agencies and politicians respond to public pressure. Hope to hear from all of you soon.
Ken


A PROGRAM RESTORATION PROPOSAL FOR
WYNOOCHEE SUMMER-RUN STEELHEAD

Current state, national, and global economic downturns are affecting everyone. If the recession has not hit you personally, you probably know someone it has affected, and according to our government and economic leaders, we have not hit bottom yet. Due to crippling budget shortfalls, WDFW will be forced to make some devastating decisions affecting their ability to manage many natural resource programs.
Among the proposed program cuts is the complete elimination of the Summer-run Steelhead program on the Wynoochee River. While Coho hatchery programs in the Chehalis basin are proposed to take a 25% reduction, which would reduce the total plant from 3.1 million to 2.36 million approximately, the program reduction to the basins Summer-run Steelhead programs is projected to be 80%. I feel that this disparity is not fair to the sport anglers that fish in Grays Harbor, and I have a proposal that could partially restore the summer-run steehead programs.
According to my calculations, based on my duties and experience as a Fish Hatchery Specialist 4 at Lake Aberdeen Hatchery, the cost of funding 75,000 summer-runs for the wynoochee river program would total approximately $25,400 annually. 15,000 of these fish are out-planted at Aberdeen Hatchery to ensure returning broodstock to the hatchery, 60,000 are planted in the lower wynoochee river.

Fish feed $14,800
Chemicals and theraputants for fish health $ 1100
Virology tests and examinations $ 1000
Wages and benefits $ 8400

total $25300
All cost estimations are based on current material prices and salaries. However, if Lake Aberdeen hatchery continues to be staffed after the proposed program cuts have been enacted, the wages and benefits would not be a factor, as the staff would already be working on-site. This would place the cost at $16,900.
Lake Aberdeen hatchery is a gravity-flow station, there is no pumping cost associated with any fish rearing program. The hatchery is billed a lump-sum amount for use of Lake Aberdeen water by the City of Aberdeen. This cost would not change regardless of program revisions.

Now, how do we pay for the restoration of this program without asking for additional money?

Calculations for costs for rearing and releasing fish are based on how large the fish need to be at time of release and how much feed it would require to grow them to that size.
Coho smolts are released at approximately 15 fish per pound, steelhead smolts are released at approximately 5-6 fish per pound. Therefore, it takes 3 times as much feed to rear and release a steelhead as it does to rear and release a coho. Costs to restore the summer-run steelhead program can be found by reducing the proposed coho programs an additional 256,500 fish.


Reduce coho production in the Chehalis basin by 225,000 to cover feed cost of $14,800.

Reduce coho production in Chehalis basin an additional 31,500 to cover cost of theraputants and fish health charges $2100.

After these additional program reductions to the hatchery coho in the Chehalis basin, we would still release 2,123,500 coho smolts.

Staff salaries and benefits are not included if the hatchery continues to operate.

The Wynoochee River is my home river. I pursue steelhead and salmon in this river from Big Creek, just below the trap on the upper wynoochee, to Elks Bar, in tidal water. I encounter local folks, and visitors from all over western Washington who come to our area for the opportunity to catch these fish. Summer-run Steelhead start arriving in the Wynoochee as early as April, and continue to be a sought-after, desirable fish into October, which provides a quality angling opportunity throughout the summer. Anglers have enjoyed this steelhead program since the mid 1980's. Traveling anglers make several trips to our area, and frequently make this a part of their family camping vacations. With the current financial state on the Harbor, and the emotional impact it is having in our area, the decision to eliminate a longstanding, popular fishery such as this is unacceptable and inconsiderate. With reduced hatchery programs on the Washington Coast and Puget Sound, angling pressure has steadily increased each year on the harbor for the past several years, and will continue to do so. It has been my experience, that once a program is cut, it is not likely to be re-instated.
I understand the impact that tribal and non-tribal commercial fisheries have on the decisions regarding the proposed program reductions such as Coho, Chinook, and Winter Steelhead. The percentage of reductions on those programs in the Chehalis Basin is a reflection of that. I believe that the summer-run program cuts are so severe because there is essentially sport angling only on these fish. With no tribal or non-tribal commercial harvest on these fish, there is no risk of legal action or disputes brought against WDFW by the other ‘co-managers’, if the program is cut.
It makes it an ‘easy’ decision.
The sport anglers and citizens of Washington State pay for these programs through taxes, fees and fishing licenses. Local businesses benefit from the influx of anglers to the harbor area.
I’m asking you, for your help to restore this program and recognize and respect the citizens, anglers of Washington State, and local businesses of Grays Harbor. Please contact these individuals and make your feelings known:
Representative Brian Blake, Chairman of Agricultural and Natural Resources
blake.brian@leg.wa.gov 360 786-7870
Senator Brian Hatfield hatfield.brian@leg.wa.gov 360 786-7636
Representative Lynn Kessler kessler.lynn@leg.wa.gov 360 786-7904
Washington Dept. Of Fish and Wildlife Hatcheries Program 360 902-2661
Washington Dept. Of Fish and Wildlife Region 6 office Montesano 360 249-4628


Sincerely,


Ken Isaksson
Fish Hatchery Specialist 4
Humptulips
Lake Aberdeen
Mayr Ponds
Hatcheries