The 1,500 fish part is a little confusing, and so have many of the other answers I've gotten over the last few years at these meetings. (My notes go back to 2011 on Baker Lake meetings.)

In the beginning we were told they tried to negotiate with the tribes on that escapement number for the lake, but the tribes wanted 1,500 or less (I think 0 was their suggestion) and WDFW wanted 3,000 or more. Instead of setting a number they decided that since we wouldn't be able to catch all the fish in the lake, they would just rely on what we didn't catch for the lake escapement, so no fish were set aside for escapement. In other words, the tribe didn't contribute any fish from their 50% towards lake escapement. This current explanation is either a new program, or not accurate. They also didn't show this number anywhere in the graphs and charts of total fish trapped and either taken for hatchery purposes or released into the lake.

The next is moneys for monitoring and enforcement, the first years they said there was very little money available for monitoring the river fishery, and that this was a major concern in opening the river, it would greatly influence where and when it could be opened. Then last year when I asked about it they said, what do you mean, money isn't a problem, never was. Now this year they said it will cost X amount to do creel checks and for enforcement, so this could limit the time and locations sportsman could fish.

For the river I think they settled on just 20% of the total sportsman’s half of the fish, I think they did away with the 30% buffer portion of it because it complicated things.