"The results indicated there was virtually no survival of Chamber's Cr winter-run steelhead progeny in the Skagit River. You would think that since 50,000+ smolts of Chamber's Creek winter-run origin were planted from the Marblemount hatchery rearing pond and mainstem sites every year for over 15 years prior to the genetic sampling done in the mid-1970, large, significant numbers of Chamber's Cr hatchery-origin steelhead would have shown in the sampling; but they did not."

Refreshing to hear another "science backed" opinion? What the hell are we do believe? All I read on this site is science backed arguments for the elimination of hatchery and wild broodstock programs, and how they negatively harm wild fish populations. Would like to hear Todds or Salmo G's comments on Jim Johnstons write.
In the end as sportsfishers, I think most of us would just like to have opportunities to fish for Steelhead on Puget Sound systems, from Dec.1st to March 31st. If hatchery fish do little harm as this read states, plant the bastards! If costs are to high to raise them, charge me more! Maybe shutting production down is an angle for the State to allow the Tribes to take it all over, because that is what will happen anyway. After 38 years of Steelheading, I would gladly pay for some privacy having more systems open, rather than battle the crowds for a run on the coast. The future?, I don't like it, but can you say "CLASS WATER DESIGNATIONS". My 2c