Federal Science Panel Releases Review of the Elwha Hatchery Programs
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 12:03AM 
Care to guess what they determined?
Last week the Hatchery Scientific Review Group (HSRG), an independent federal science review panel released a long awaited review of the Elwha Hatchery programs. Not surprisingly the HSRG came to many of the same conclusions as we did in choosing to join the Wild Fish Conservancy, Wild Steelhead Coalition and Conservation Angler in a lawsuit against the Elwha hatchery program.
Specifically, the current hatchery emphasis in the plan is unnecessary and counterproductive to the aim of recovering robust wild populations in the Elwha River and that an inadequate monitoring program will limit the ability to adaptively manage hatchery programs and determine the degree to which they are aiding or hindering recovery. Furthermore, no specific recovery goals or thresholds have been established that would lead to a reduction in the degree of hatchery supplementation in the Elwha and many of the hatchery fish being released into the Elwha are not marked with an adipose fin clip.
A few quotes from the document:
"The main concern the HSRG has with the Elwha Plan is the potential for unintended negative consequences of excessive and prolonged hatchery influence."
"Prolonged hatchery influence may lead to loss of fitness of natural populations, potentially resulting in reduced or delayed restoration and loss of long‐term sustainable harvest opportunities."
"Inadequate program monitoring may lead to management decisions that reduce or delay recovery, rather than promoting it, and prevent managers from identifying and testing alternatives that could be more effective."
"The continued production of Chambers Creek steelhead stock during the early phases of recovery therefore appears inconsistent with the priorities and goals the managers have presented."
Download a copy of the HSRG report
Reader Comments (4)
...and so my question remains, why were none of these study's being done even 5 years ago?.. or 2 years ago? What, was the technology not available or..? Hence the trouble with "Last Minute Lucy", all the ladys standin 'round cryin at the intersection where the stop sign should have been put up long ago. The process for this removal started back in '86... the new hatchery didn't even break ground till '10. You mean to say NO ONE saw this freight train coming? I have calls into Klallam to see if there is any dialog going on, but I bet I can guess the answer to that.
I have said it before, I'm all for natural re-introduction, but this sitting on hands thing that seems to prevail in this debate between hatchery and wild...I don't know. Bottom line IMHO, this shit should have been worked out before the first chip of concrete flew. I bet it's gonna be like pushin a Caddy up East Roy in a snow storm now... not sayin, jus sayin
...and the official word from the Klallam....no comment
and boom goes the dynamite
deerhawk, you have all the solutions
now go make your innovative movie, dumbass