FB -
I worked for WFDW on that system in 1980's running a scoop trap counting fish coming out of that basin. Did a lot of work there. Fished it since then now and then. Habitat conditions look more or less the same now as then - maybe better, but not all that bad compared to Pugetropolis. Protections are better now then they were back then.

Estimates of habitat capacity are just that and unless there are better data, and unless you can account for the the ocean, in-river nets, and all of the other factors nobody can really say for sure what is what. Salmo - I don't agree that there is 80% less capacity, but I have no data to argue that point, so whatever. That would be a good topic for another thread. I do think that the NC purchase won't likely have a big impact on the fish production in that basin. Harvest , hatchery plants, etc. are not going to change with the purchase of the land. Practices next to the river are not going to be much different than with the private forest ownership. Time will tell.