Originally Posted By: Larry B
Considering how well the wild Nisqually steelhead have responded to no stocking and no recreational fishing for, what, 20 years I have to wonder about when the tribe will cease its hatchery operation given this little "oh by the way" qualifier: "(A)n interim hatchery program currently operated by the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe to restore the river's steelhead population is scheduled to end [b]once river conditions improve and restoration objectives for wild steelhead are achieved[/b]."

Have those objectives been established? Are they reasonable given obvious non-river limiting factors affecting other systems?


Read NMFS Section 7 Biological Opinion and see for yourself. The steelhead program along with viability parameter triggers are discussed on pages 18 & 19.

NMFS Elwha Hatchery Biological Opinion