In the interest of covering all the bases perhaps all lakes with anadromous fish access should be closed in the winter and spring. Through late May, maybe early June.
A friend of mine, who worked for years at WDFW, told me that when he first stared fishing OD, the catch in Big Lake up In Skagit County had a lot of coho pre-smolts mixed in. The steelhead and cutthroat that move through the lakes at the same time would also be subject to being caught.
At least some of these lakes serve as overwinter habitat with the fish swarming in from the creeks.
As a further thought, back when it had bass and a trout fishery Crocker Lake (Discovery Bay area) would put out 1-2000 coho smolts in good year. After it was rehabbed to get rid of Northern Pike, closing it to fishing, and following the coho recovery program, it now puts out 30-40K coho.
Ok now you are talking about US Defense Secretary Robert Gates summer haunts in case you find that your house has been turned to kindling by a misguided missile.
Lake Sutherland appears to be singled out from the other lakes that have fishing seasons that rear anadromous species which includes lakes in the PNW and Canada.
Another lawsuit the state will probably have to contend with.
Conservation is similar to building prisons. Generally an accepted idea as long as it isn't in your backyard.
This is moving too fast and needs to slow down and then look at it in more detail by all parties. Closing the lake several years before dam removal ?? Something appears wrong with that picture.
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