A brief aside . . . Old school hatchery technology adhered to the idea that anadromous fish access should be cut off at the water supply site for fish disease considerations. Consequently a lot of hatcheries in this state have migration barriers at or near water supply diversions on small streams. The loss of natural production in the upper portion of the creek was considered an acceptable trade off for the benefits associated with the hatchery production.

Times have changed, and fish agency values have evolved to decide that hatchery production should have to deal with the disease risk posed by allowing migratory fish to spawn and rear in the water supply. Not all fish culturists agree with this BTW.

Now it looks like WFC would rather close Tokul Creek hatchery instead of modernizing it. That looks like a conservation value for wild fish, regardless of how great or little that benefit is, at the expense of producing any hatchery fish at all at Tokul Creek. And if I recall correctly, Tokul is a major provider of hatchery trout for stocking lakes for recreational fishing as well as being one of the most successful steelhead hatcheries in terms of smolt to adult return rate. I think closing Tokul Creek hatchery is a good idea only if closing salmon and steelhead hatcheries in general in Puget Sound is good for salmon and steelhead conservation. It doesn't make sense any other way.

Sg