Carcassman, I don't dispute those priorities, and some of those Cowlitz Chinook that aren't caught in BC do recruit to the ocean fishery. B-10, not so much due to tule constraints.

WSU, actual returns to the Cowlitz are very low as a % of smolts released. Investing the $ in fish that actually return to local fisheries would be a more prudent investment. As C-man points out, the ocean fishery is all important, so WDFW probably justifies the expense for the paltry contribution to that fishery of importance.