I assumed you were talking salmon as steelhead is another thing altogether. In fact they are the most out of place fish in the PNW as they are total takers from a watershed, by that I mean a Chum takes little as it is to the ocean right out of the box. Steelies by their life cycle contribute almost zero to a watershed but take everything from it. As a total taker when things get out of balance they are vulnerable. The other thing is frankly in the world of fin to fin combat Steelies are pussy's. You may think they are majestic but they are wimps. Much like the Bald Eagle, our national bird, which is a opportunistic creature that can get its ass kicked by crows, Steelies can not adapt to much at all let alone rapidly.

I have watched Bio's ( several on this BB ) argue this / that from many perspectives. Want to know my thoughts? Clueless is my thoughts. Nature created a system that salmonids created their own ecosystem by the fact they went to the ocean and returned to fertilize the home that would be for future production. From the minute harvest began to remove large scale numbers of salmon from the cycle production declined. Go to historical records and see what natural production was BEFORE Grand Coulee. Look to what harvest was and had become, then come to grips with the fact that prior to WWII and the dams habitat was not impacted that much. Eastern WA & OR were regarded as wilderness! In the 30's in GH they panicked as they reduced harvest due to declining runs. Logging, farming, cities, and fish were in decline. BS as all had impacts to be sure but it was not until the 70's ( after Columbus Day and the start of export ) in GH that timber really nailed fish. Then add tree farms on 40 year rotations and it was hyper drive habitat impacts.

You know what? The damage was already done with harvest and massive ocean harvest finished things off. Right now at this point in time ALL THAT IS HAPPENING is the impacts of the over harvest and population expansion starting in the 70's is coming full circle. Outside the Columbia it will get worse as I don't think PS is going to come out of it and the coast is 15 years out before the impacts of tree farms 40 yr rotation come full circle.

I am an old fart and seen to many battles lost for fish but irregardless it is what it is.