I would hope we can all agree that there are more reasons that one for the degradation of the steelhead and salmon runs on the Snake and Clearwater. The damns are not the only cause but they are a major cause. Of course we need to also focus on netting, predadation by terns at the mouth of the columbia, etc. The FACT remains though that a percentage of smolts are lost at each damn during downstream migration. I am not saying that the damns should come out but please admit that they are a problem. Denial simply serves those that would rather we keep saying "hey blame them, it's not our problem".

There may be other solutions. I gentleman I have recently met as we share an early morning steelhead pool was telling me about a project he is working on to assist migration past the damns. I won't even try and describe it here (Steve, describe it if you feel comfortable doing so) but it sounded very promising.

As for the Rhonde fish, how many of them are native? The Rhonde was almost a barren river in the late 70s and it was only through hatchery options that it recovered to its present levels. (Not that this year was anything to rave about.)

Ok time to get off of my soap-box.