Steelhead management is little more than a nuisance to the Washington Department of Salmon. If they open a stream that has been closed, that's just more work. They're not looking for more work, just more revenue.
Occupy Skagit, on steroids.
- Thread starter Salmo_g
- Start date
Pink Nighty
Legend
What you've identified is a feature of WDFW management style, not a flaw! At least not in their eyes
Without a doubt both the sea-run cutthroat and summer run steelhead are two of most challenging of our anadromous fish to monitoring their population status. The bull trout would be the next on that list.
In the Puget Sound basin historically, it has been estimated that approximately 2% of its steelhead were native summer-run fish. Those summer fish in the Puget Sound steelhead recovery plan consisted of 5 populations. Those populations with their historic abundance estimate were South Fork Nooksack - 1,920, Deer Creek (NF Stillaguamish) - 3,311, Canyon Creek (SF Stillaguamish) - 530, North Fork Skykomish -728 and forks of the Tolt -1,655. Only the Tolt fish have regularly been monitoring with spawning surveys (going back to the mid-1980s, check SCORE).
The Tolt population was/is the easily monitored. It is spawning grounds is at the lowest elevation and fish spawn below a barrier that is downstream of the Seattle dam (for drinking water). Thus, two of the biggest challenges to consistently surveying the spawning during the March to May period (snow and lack of contrast between new redds and the stream bottom -lack of algae) are minimized). In some parts of the west during low flows late summer/early fall snorkel have used. On at least on the Tolt there was little relationship between such snorkel adult counts and the number redds seen the following spring. Recently a mark/recapture efforts on Deer Creek has shown some promise but even that has its own set of problems.
Recognizing those difficult survey conditions the old Department of Wildlife after the regularly marking of the hatchery smolts adopt regulations requiring the release of all unmarked steelhead during the summer in the Puget Sound region about 1985. As you can see in the Tolt summer steelhead escapement numbers there was an increase in the escapement numbers for a decade (reflecting the success of the regulation change?) but then decline to lower levels which have continued to today. Suspect much of the depressed production reflect conditions in marine waters (both Puget Sound and the ocean).
With laddering/truck and hauling) at the barriers on the South Fork Stillaguamish (Granite falls) and South Fork Skykomish (Sunset Falls) additional 'wild" populations have become established in both basins. Through the WDFW hatchery reports one can track how the number of unmarked fish are being trucked over Sunset Falls.
Bottom line as long as Puget Sound steelhead are ESA listed, I doubt that we will see any directed fishery (even CnR) at the region's wild summer steelhead. Though I suppose there is a small chance at either the Tolt or South Fork of Skykomish if the counts shown significant increases in abundances and an approved river management plans were developed.
Curt
wanderingrichard
Life of the Party
I wonder if they understand not too many are happy with them
HauntedByWaters
Life of the Party
Really interesting read. Sounds like there is a lot more going on with the commission than the public knows.
Oh yeah, if you’ve been following the game commission drama it has been wild.
wanderingrichard
Life of the Party
Lawsuits and recall petitions ?
HauntedByWaters
Life of the Party
Update: I met a shady dude at ********** Gym. I am now on steroids and ready to Occupy Skagit. Just tell me the time and the place and I’ll be there in a rage ready to rip some faces off!!!!!
I am just a bit skeptical about the outcome of either approach
Elected Judges?
Recall petitions?
Approximately 8% to 9% of Washington's population holds a state fishing license
Approximately 2.3% to 2.4% of Washington state residents hold paid hunting licenses. Washington ranks among the lowest in the nation for the percentage of residents with hunting licenses.
wanderingrichard
Life of the Party
Well, those are the legal options that come to mind first... minority numbers aside, we do have optionsI am just a bit skeptical about the outcome of either approach
Elected Judges?
Recall petitions?
Approximately 8% to 9% of Washington's population holds a state fishing license
Approximately 2.3% to 2.4% of Washington state residents hold paid hunting licenses. Washington ranks among the lowest in the nation for the percentage of residents with hunting licenses.
If WDFW has become irrelevant in regards to recreational fishing in anadromous streams, how are the governor and legislators any more relevant? I intend to pay them no mind.
Yes, it's public info. Well, at least the redd counts are. I can't remember the formula they use to convert redd count to escapement, something like 1.5 fish per redd (because of multiple paternities, if I'm remembering correctly). Someone else probably knows - @Smalma?
Once you're in the link (below), click the 'data' tab (see snip below).
This dataset contains all the spawning ground redd surveys WDFW has done.
You can export this to CSV, which I recommend, so you can filter for the body of water you want.
There should be a redd count column in there.
I want to say the data goes back to the '40s, but I can't remember exactly - been a while (and a lot of beers) since I've done anything with it.
Here's the link:
Look for the data tab:
Oh, I should add, it's not just native fish though - for example, we'd see clipped fish on redds in bridal veil - still counted the redd.
That’s what I’m talking about!
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speedbird
Life of the Party
How many Washington State Republicans have serious policy proposals to improve our sportfishing opportunities?
HauntedByWaters
Life of the Party
I think the issue is the politicians don’t want to touch blood sports because of the associated ethical dilemmas for so many people. We are a small fringe group in the modern world. Why would politicians take a stand when it could cost them votes? So sports fishermen and hunters are not on the agenda ever at the top tier of politics.
Small fringe group practicing a blood sport that’s older than recorded history, older than culture, older than humanity. It’s a real ethical dilemma.
