Politics has had a heavy hand in whole Elwha process. I support the dam removals and I'll be following the recovery process closely. The closure of Lake Sutherland was apparently in the works for some time, but the public acknowledgement of the proposal was really late in coming out.

If you'll check the proposed regulations, the lake will be open April to October with a slot limit for the take of all salmonids of fish that range between 6" to 16". Additionally, Indian Creek, the outlet for the lake and the rest of the Elwha River basin are going to be closed to the take of all salmonids for 5 years so there shouldn't be any pressure on out migrants. If Lake Sutherland kokanee are indeed out-migrating then, when the dams are reduced to a level where there is a chance for fish passage upstream, we might see sockeye in Indian Creek and moving into Lake Sutherland. With the slot limit, 16" maximum, and the season structure, I'd hazard to guess that there won't be much pressure on any returning adult sockeye. If sockeye don't show up.....another plan might be implemented. We'll have to look at the science and see if alternatives might be explored.

I think this is a good decision.