So here's a thought.................

Let's assume that all Broodstock programs were discontinued.

We stopped harvest of wild steelhead in SW WA rivers in 1989 I beleive, #'s haven't changed much...

River closures were introduced March 15th through April 16th some where around 10 years ago on the EF of the Lewis.

Bait bans were introduced 5 or so years ago on the EF of the Lewis from March 15th through June 1st.

Hatchery plants for summer runs have been cut from just over 100,000 in the late 80's to 25,000 as of recent. As well as Winter hatchery plants have been cut from 130,000 to 90,000.

Still the numbers of Winter native steelhead haven't changed.

How would you suggest the wild fish #'s be recovered?

Here's what the HSRG suggests:
Recommendations
Due to the ecological and genetic risks from the segregated winter steelhead program on the ESA listed winter steelhead, this program should be modified in one of three ways to meet standards of a primary population: (1) reduce the size of the current segregated winter steelhead hatchery program to approximately 20,000 smolts; (2) reduce the size of the current segregated winter steelhead hatchery program to approximately 45,000 smolts and manage to remove 50% of the unharvested hatchery adults; or (3) replace with an integrated winter run program of approximately 40,000 smolts (with pNOB of 100%) and manage to remove 50% of the unharvested hatchery adults. All of these options represent a reduced genetic and ecological risk compared to current conditions. In any case, manage acclimation and release to reduce residualism, and recapture unharvested adults to the extent possible.
This stream is a good candidate to be a Wild Steelhead Management Zone. This would require eliminating all hatchery releases in the East Fork Lewis.
Keith