Steelhead Summit: Wild Skagit steelhead and conservative fisheries management for continued stock recovery.

Summary: Groups, anglers and citizens concerned about the restoration and protection of native, wild steelhead of the Skagit River in Washington are welcome to attend this event. You'll hear presentations by noted scientists who work on fisheries and habitat research, and discuss public policy initiatives with wild steelhead advocates.

Info and Agenda on the Wild Steelhead Coalition page



Wild Skagit Initiative

Skagit River Steelhead: Conservative fisheries management for continued stock recovery

April 18, 2015

9:00 AM – 5:30 PM

Center for Urban Horticulture

3501 Northeast 41st Street

Seattle, WA 98105

DRAFT AGENDA

8:30 – Doors open

Introduction

9:00 – 9:05 – Welcome, Introductions, What is the SSA & Goals

Goals of SSA:

Provide an understanding of the history and present condition of wild steelhead in the Skagit River Basin
Provide a platform for discussion regarding the future and identify ideal management methods that would provide the highest potential for recovery of wild Skagit steelhead
Seize the incredible opportunity and gain support for designating the entire Skagit Basin as a Wild Steelhead Gene Bank
Presentations

9:05 – 9:30 Overview of the Skagit and its Steelhead

9:30 – 10:00 Nick Gayeski (Wild Fish Conservancy)

Skagit steelhead smolt plant and harvest history, and wild run-timing shift

10:00 – 10:45 Bill McMillan (retired fisheries biologist)

Smolt Plants vs. Harvest Trend

10:45 – 11:00 BREAK

11:00 – 11:30 Kurt Beardslee & Nick Gayeski (Wild Fish Conservancy)

Hatchery Steelhead and the Chambers Creek Stock

11:30 -12:00 John McMillan (Wild Steelheaders United/Trout Unlimited)

Importance of Life History Diversity for Recovery & Management

12:00 – 12:45 LUNCH &

Curt Kramer (retired WDFW fisheries biologist)

Years of Observations on the Skagit – with Q&A

12:45 – 1:15 Bill McMillan (retired fisheries biologist)

Spawning and the Importance of Mid-Skagit Tributaries

1:15 – 1:45 Dick Burge (Wild Steelhead Coalition Trustee)

The latest on catch and release impacts

1:45 – 2:15 Ed Connor & Michael Schmidt (Seattle City Light/Long Live The Kings)

Puget Sound Steelhead Smolt Marine Survival Study

2:15 – 2:45 Steve Hinton (Skagit River System Cooperative)

Current Habitat Restoration Efforts on the Skagit

2:45 – 3:00 BREAK

3:00 – 3:45 Dave Pflug (Seattle City Light)

Genetic, Ecological and Productivity Monitoring of Skagit Watershed Natural Origin Steelhead Following the Cessation of Hatchery Releases

3:45 – 4:15 Ed Connor (Seattle City Light)

Steelhead recovery planning: Puget Sound Steelhead Recovery Planning Team

4:15 – 4:30 Questions/Action/Next Steps – Closing Statements

4:30 – 5:30 SOCIAL Mixer (refreshments available)