Originally Posted By: Smalma
Lucky -
While it is fun to paint WFC as the only villain in regard to the demise of Puget Sound steelhead the fact is that by 2012 (before the latest WFC suit) the number of Chambers Creek winter steelhead being planted in Puget Sound streams had been slashed by more than 50% from the pre-ESA listing of Puget Sound steelhead. Those slashes where in response to WDFW's 2008 statewide steelhead policy and HSRG recommendations.

That is not to shift the blame from WFC but illustrate that for the Puget Sound region steelhead fishing has been a low priority for WDFW (at least as measured by their actions).

Curt

After going back and rereading the last couple of pages of this thread, I’m glad I did because you make a good point considering the two different time frames we were talking about. Yours pre-settlement and mine was about the 2014 settlement between WDFW and WFC regarding Puget Sound early winter hatchery steelhead. Below is the self explanatory WDFW news release link for those interested in looking at that agreement.

http://wdfw.wa.gov/news/apr2514b/

Still not happy with all these lawsuits that attack hatchery steelhead and now hatchery salmon and steelhead in the Columbia River.
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