CM -
I'm always surprised that folks have not made a bigger case for increased wild fish escapements on those rivers with hatchery programs. For a segregated hatchery program one of the surest ways to increase the natural selection pressures operating against those fish is by having lots of wild fish competing with them.

If one wants hatchery fish in a system to support fishing one of the "cost" should be managing for increased escapement objectives - one closer to carrying capacity rather than MSY.

In regards to the Forks Creek and Skagit steelhead I still believe that the differences in spawning time of the respective wild populations and the very different hydrographs in the two basins are significant factors.

A huge difference between hatchery salmon and steelhead is the more extended and modified rearing changes required to produce a steelhead smolt over a salmon smolt. That by its very nature subjects steelhead to more hatchery selective pressures rending them less fit to survive in the very different wild environment.

Tight lines
Curt