To the extent that NOAA has had steelhead HGMPs for an excruciatingly long time and with a critical go/no go decision point rapidly coming up for this year's release of EWSH smolt production the Agency needs to (1) meet its review obligations and render a "verdict" before that date or (2) issue a temporary permit allowing continuation of EWSH plants in those river systems pending completion of its processes.

It is my understanding that the HGMP's as submitted call for ongoing EWSH plants using progeny of in river returns (only). Point being that if we lose brood stock from those systems the current HGMPs under review will not allow for bringing in plants from another system (i.e. from the Skykomish) meaning no further EWSH in those systems or another protracted process of revised HGMPs for review and approval.