Quote:
The summer Steelhead program ended in 1999 out of concern the hatchery fish might be weakening the wild run. However, the study concludes there was no corresponding increase in winter steelhead productivity after it ended. Wild numbers remained largely static until recent passage improvements in both the River Mill and North Fork dams over the past couple of years.


What a weak argument! You could literally make this excuse for anything that is harming salmonids. It’s just like closing fishing or removing nets etc. If the runs don’t improve then it proves fishing made no impact.
Or does it???