The closure of Willapa Bay and it's tribs is not due to low fish returns. The 3 hatcheries totaled 9330 spawnable fish which could have conservatively produced 11 million eggs, (9330 x .4(females) x 3000(eggs per female). The egg take goal is a bit of a mystery but should be around 8-9 million if the governor's request for increased Chinook production is the plan. Low warm water and Ick caused excessive mortalities (4607) especially in the Willapa (837) and Nehma (3562). While mortalities are normal for all hatcheries usually they are in the hundreds not thousands. Those 4607 morts could have produced another 5.5 million eggs.

The problem is raising 3 million Chinook in the Nehma which is nothing more than a PISS ANT CREEK. Great stream system for Chum, but too little water and too many Chinook for consistent results.

The mortalities in the Nehma are the only reason the Naselle remains closed for any salmon fishing. Something needs to change.