Please take action now on this very important matter. Please click on this link now!!!!!

https://www.votervoice.net/PSA/campaigns/41601/respond

We are at the end of the 2015 legislative session. We have severe danger to our fisheries that are now on the table that arose Tuesday. The House Appropriations Committee approved a 2015-2017 operating budget that proposes to cut our funding for hatchery salmon production. The Committee also accepted an amendment from Representative Kristine Lytton (D-Anacortes) that wouldundermine the Willapa Bay salmon fishery reform policyrecently adopted by the Fish and Wildlife Commission. Please take just one minute click on the link above to send your state representatives telling them to reverse these bad policies. If you don't act now, our fisheries are going to be on an unrecoverable death spiral. THIS IS THAT IMPORTANT!

The House budget proposal would cut funding for the marking of hatchery salmon by over $400,000. Since state law requires that all hatchery salmon be marked, this will result in a direct cut to hatchery salmon production, including Chinook and Coho. Every previous version of the House and Senate budgets have included this funding, so there's a chance we can save this funding if we act now!

Thanks for the notice, FN. It would be such a huge bummer if this went through. Emailed my reps.

DONE!

Sent... Here we go again. Blake is like a lobbyist from Hell. When does his legislative term end, so he can answer his true calling to serve the few?

Done. Too bad Blake's little session tomorrow morning won't allow for public testimony!

Guess if your going to cut some funding for hatcheries you might as well cut the funding to clip the nonexistent smolts.

they have to cut something to pay for their 11% raise

They are proposing shifting hatchery production over from the Nemah to the Naselle? Very limited bank access on the Nemah "ditch". Naselle has multiple boat launches and a lot more access.

I've fished the Nemah and many parts aren't accessible. Why fund a hatchery that is only running at 1/4 production?

Because the Naselle cannot meet HSRG requirements on straying. The weir fails in high water events and is pulled around Oct 15th dependent on flows. The purpose of both the Nemah & Naselle hatcheries is primarily for the marine fisheries. Targeting harvest in river is not the purpose for any Willapa estuary hatchery but rather a secondary consideration.

Wouldn't fish caught in the river and bay serve as more recreational opportunity if hatchery production was increased? I thought you guys were wanting additional opportunity. That was a big push of yours earlier in the year.

Also, there would probably be some efficiency gained at a single hatchery vs. having two. Savings in personnel costs could likely be realized by not having duplication of duties at two sites.

Additional production would help boost marine fisheries, wouldn't it?

Ah a boost in hatchery production would do zip for the Recs. The freshwater catch is about equal to Rec marine at present but most fresh Rec comes from the Nemah fresh. The Sept 16 dead line for no nets benefits most in T&U. The Rec only had at best access to about 30% of the adults combined hatchery production prior to the new WMP as the Commercials cleaned out things in front of them. Add more to the pie the inriver and will not notice it. Marine Rec some depending where you fish. You need to turn loose of BB DG as he has went right off the deep end.

You still have to get the hatchery fish out of the river to meet HSRG. Until the wild runs increase in size the hatchery production, especially where fisheries are non-selective (nets) must be reduced.

Saw an analysis of some lower Columbia Chinook programs. IF wild Chinook recovery was goal there were at least a few hatcheries that could release a couple thousand smolts as the wild run had been beaten so low.

Notes sent.

What a piece of work BB is.... I admire his dedication to the cause, but it's a cause with which I can no longer sympathize, so....

This makes it official; he's gotten his last vote from this constituent, even if that means I have to vote for a (shiver) Republican.

FF02, I would believe it, maybe if I saw pictures of the ballot lol

LOL. Indeed, jgreen, it is very nearly as difficult for me to vote for Democrats. I only vote so nobody can throw me that BS line about how you can change a bad situation by changing your vote. I know I'll get the same screwing in the end.

If the budget isn't passed, they will screw us all. I'll still fish anyways. I got my permit, it's not my fault they can't do their jobs.

Today's work session is available on TVW.

http://www.tvw.org/index.php?option=com_tvwplayer&eventID=2015060077

emailed my reps and senator, but maybe too late. The nice thing about Blake is that he isn't trying to hide the fact that he's a scumbag.

If watching video.......1st part is interesting but boring....WDFW starts about 1:08:40,

If you haven't been to Willapa Bay meetings, this would be a good place to catch up on the reasons for the Willapa Bay Plan.

The TVW video between 34:20 and 37:30 discusses Coastal WA chinook ESU. The NOAA wonk states there is nothing on the radar re potential petitioning for ESA listing.

The ESU was last evaluated in 1998 when only 3 of the 11 chinook populations in the ESU were showing a down trend. In contrast, fast fwd to 2015 when ALL but 3 of those same populations are showing a distinct downtrend.

I suspect it's about to hit the radar pretty dam quick.




YO! Houston.... think we gotta problem?