Double Haul -
I have spend decades championing wild steelhead and it is issues like this that drives me nuts!

I'm all for science driven management and in the case it is clear that the "science" shows that in the Puget Sound region that much of the potential impacts from hatchery fish on the wild population has been addressed.

Consider the following; In WFC's suit they claim that in recent years Puget Sound wild steelhead numbers have fallen to 3% of what they may have been in 1850. No can argue that the steelhead's habitat in Puget Sound rivers has been trashed. The degree of those impacts has been placed at 50% to 95% of the historic productivity (the ability of a river to produce steelhead smolts). Further the average productivity today across the region is something like 20% of the historical or base level. That means the rivers that produced 10,000 adults in 1850 are now capable of producing 2,000.

In addition it is also clear that the average marine survival of steelhead smolts on reaching the salt is less than 20% of what they once were. This of course means that the 2,000 steelhead the rivers above are now producing are now producing 400 (2,000 times 0.2). Our hypothetical river with its historical steelhead run of 10,000 steelhead is now producing only 400 or 4% of what it once did.

Are those that care about our wild steelhead going to continue to allow the discussion to be focused on hatchery and harvest issue when it is clear that currently 99% of the factors driving our steelhead to only 3% of their historical levels are habitat (including hydro) and marine survival. Suits like this current one and support of those changes not only are dividing the very advocates that the steelhead resource not only needs but requires; it constantly shifts the focus away from the real limiting factors and allows those that benefit from the status quo on those issues to skate.

At some point folks have to say enough! If not steelhead fishing on Puget Sound rivers is done and they will be come museum pieces in a few of the best rivers. And oh by the way the status of steelhead in the rest of the State will some follow.

I had hoped for better.

curt