Sure, demolition’s just begun on the Elwha River Dams and people are pretty excited about it — but there’s already a growing backlash against the establishment of a hatchery on the river to “jump start” the recovery:
The groups say hatchery fish reduce the vigor and survival of fragile runs of native fish, and that the decision to plant nonnative Chambers Creek winter steelhead in the river poses particular risk. The filers are far from alone in their concern: Scientists from every agency that has weighed in on the question of stocking nonnative steelhead in the river have opposed it as an unreasonable and unnecessary risk to wild-fish recovery.
Hatchery proponents seem to be backed into a corner, citing the need for a tribal fishery after a five-year moratorium on fishing is ended as the rebounding fishery will still be “too fragile.”
Opponents of the hatchery — pretty much everybody else — say its existence will ensure a fragile wild/native fishery for a lot longer than five years, and others note that $16 million is a lot to pay for what amounts to a temporary solution.
Who’s stacked up against the hatchery?
The lead fish biologist for Olympic National Park, the habitat biologist for the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, and scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife are all on record opposing the practice.
“This is the world’s largest river-restoration program and it should reflect the world’s best science,” said Kurt Beardslee, head of the Wild Fish Conservancy, one of the groups involved. “We think the hatchery is threatening the recovery of wild fish and we really don’t think it went through the proper review process.”
Also joining in the action are the Wild Steelhead Coalition, The Conservation Angler and Federation of Fly Fishers Steelhead Committee.
Stay tuned; the group has filed an “intent to sue” which means they’re giving the hatchery folks 60 days to discuss the issue before the suit is filed.
The lord giveth, the lord taketh away…
Reading “Mountain in the Clouds” by Bruce Brown a quarter-century ago made me want to dismantle the Elwha dam with my bare hands. Made a trip there just to see the powerful river that formed the super race of salmon.
The Elwha dam removal has been a long time coming. One would hope that we had learned enough during all that time to recognize how incompatible hatcheries are to the long-term needs of salmon.
Sully(Quote)