Interesting discussion. Start managing for Sockeye and what had to be done? No more trout plants? They eat anything and everything. Close lake to protect the Sockeye returns they hope to see. But closing it now makes no sense since they return in 3 years. Limit Kokanee fishing to protect future kokanee that might migrate to the ocean and provide future Sockeye returns. Limit and regulate what pesticides and chemicals can or can't be used on laws to protet the fish now that there might be a Sockeye return. What effect will removing the dam have? Will there be more flow and change the habitat so that fish survival falls or increases? Will planted trout become a problem in the river as they begin to spawn and one sees larger numbers of rainbows in the river predating on smolt from all salmon species? Anyone planted bass, perch, crappie or other predatory fish in the lake that may escape in mass and eliminate any chance of a Sockeye return once they establish in the river? Can you close the lake to Kokanee and allow other fishing without side catch of too many Sockeye smolt when/if they start to return and spawn in the lake? What about a ladder for escapement? Has the system been closed too long and the lake bottom altered too much from siltation and vegetation for it to be viable for Sockeye to spawn in?

A lot of questions that need to be answered, some that can be before anything is done and some that can only be answered after something is done somewhere.

To me it sounds like a science experiment, pick a viable specimen to conduct the experiment which has at least potential to succeed and have a go and see what happens. WIll this process ever please everyone, no. Everyone has a reason for this lake or that stream or that river not to close or be heavily regulated.

Want some good defense? Propose another lake that doesn't have so many who want it to stay open. Maybe a smaller system that might give better results that can be quantified and better managed with good solid data. Give them another option, simply yelling and screaming not in my back yard will only end one way, eventualy they will simply stop asking and just start doing. Give them options that won't close the lake but will protect the Kokanee and give them a chance to restart and re-establish the Sockeye runs. Tell them you are willing to help manage the lake to help them do what they need to do and not interfere with the actions main goal as much as you can. Oraganize the home owners on the lake to help restore and open up more spawning grounds that may be blocked by bulk heads, refuse or over grown from vegetation.

Show WDFW that there is viable alternative and the experiment can be based on the new circumstances and not forced down our throats.