Originally Posted By: Brewer
The best thing that ever happened to the WDFG was the ESA. From the gubmits point of view.

Gave the WDFG the loophole to escape operating state hatcheries.

I knowTPL is thanking it's lucky star they nolonger have to keep the cowlitz full of steelhead 12 months of the year.


Brewer,

You completely misunderestimate WDFW's intentions. WDFW likes to operate hatcheries, and lots of them. With hatcheries comes something called FTEs (Full Time Equivalent jobs). The more FTEs, the more jobs with the Department. The more jobs, the bigger the Department's budget. Hatcheries are perfect for a government bureaucracy.

As for Tacoma Power, it never did have ". . . to keep the Cowlitz full of steelhead 12 months of the year." Tacoma is required to provide fisheries mitigation as prescribed in its FERC license. However it appears that since the license went into effect in 2002, the FTC (fisheries technical committee) decided to reduce certain hatchery obligations that they think may favor recovery of ESA-listed species. Like it or not, they have the authority to make those recommendations, and if FERC approves, that becomes the operative mitigation requirements.

Sg