In 2004, the Director of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife challenged the agency to develop a scientific foundation for a Statewide Steelhead Management Plan (SSMP). Thanks to a broad coalition of individiuals and fish advocacy groups the 2008 final draft of that plan called for the establishment of Wild Steelhead Management Zones, or as they are often referred to today, Wild Steelhead Gene Banks. Fast forward to today and YOU now have the opportunity to help establish of three of the Wild Steelhead Gene Banks.
Thanks to the Native Fish Society it will only take you a minute or two to submit your comment on a proposal to eliminate hatchery steelhead plants as early as next year in three Lower Columbia River tributaries (EF Lewis, Green/NF Toutle and Wind Rivers) to support the recovery of wild fish.
Take action now and let the WDFW and NMFS know that you support management actions that implement the best-available science and recover threatened wild steelhead populations in Washington.
Deadline for comments is this Friday, December 13th.