Anglers wanted more hatchery fish from the Cowlitz basin than are programmed for Tacoma Power's mitigation hatchery system. CCA and others have advocated the use of net pens to raise additional fish. CCA was one or perhaps the main advocate for these Mayfield Lake net pens for rearing additional fall chinook salmon. I think this was in response to the largest production cuts at TP's hatchery going to fall chinook. However, the reason fall chinook were cut rather than other species, according to the advisory committee that made the recommendation, is because fall chinook return the fewest fish to the terminal recreational fishery in the Cowlitz River. Fall chinook contribute mainly to the ocean and LCR sport and commercial fisheries and very little to the Cowlitz River sport fishery.

The state Legislature has appropriated the money, and Director Anderson said WDFW just got their permits in place for the net pens, and that the eggs were already taken from the 2013 brood, so the programs is set to go this year.

It's not a bad program or a bad idea, but off all the fish that could be raised, most local anglers would prefer a stock that returned more fish to the in-river fishery for harvest. BTW, natural production of fall chinook has been on the increase in the Mayfield-Tilton area since re-introductions began, which only raises additional questions about why fall chinook were chosen.

Sg