Washington Hunter
Well-known member
Published March 30, 2006
By Chester Allen
The Olympian
Wild Puget Sound steelhead are one step — and one year — away from protection under the Endangered Species Act.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration proposed Wednesday to list the fish — which are big, oceangoing rainbow trout — as a threatened species under the act. The move instantly gives the fish more clout against land developers, more habitat protection, more water in rivers and streams — and could spell big changes in state and tribal fish hatcheries.
The proposal also is huge vindication for Sam Wright, a fish biologist of 42 years and former biologist for the state Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Wright filed a petition to protect wild steelhead in September 2004, which convinced a panel of federal fisheries scientists after other petitions to list Puget Sound steelhead failed. A 1996 petition was rejected.
“Obviously, Puget Sound wild steelhead are in trouble, and the only chance they’ve got is the Endangered Species Act,” Wright said from his Olympia home. “They’ve been in a pretty significant decline, especially for the last 10 years.”
Puget Sound wild steelhead are popular with anglers, and many consider them the most spectacular fish in the Northwest.
The listing would force a modification of hatchery operations so hatchery steelhead and wild steelhead don’t get a chance to interbreed, Wright said.
Hatchery steelhead are usually from two stocks — Chambers Creek winter steelhead or Skamania summer steelhead.
The trouble is that wild steelhead have evolved to do well in their particular home river, and interbreeding with fish from another watershed dilutes their ability to survive and changes the characteristics of the native fish.
Wild steelhead streams and rivers — where the fish spawn and where the young steelhead live for one to three years before heading for salt water — also need more protection against land development.
The streams also need more water — especially in the summer months, Wright said.
All of this would have a big effect on how humans use the rivers and forests, allocate water, generate electricity and build homes, roads and buildings.
If the proposal becomes official, Puget Sound steelhead will join Puget Sound chinook salmon and bull trout on the endangered species list.
NOAA will make a final decision on the listing in one year — after more study, consultation with the state Department of Fish and Wildlife and public hearings, said Brian Gorman, NOAA spokesman.
Public hearings and written comments will be completed by June 27.
The proposal to list the fish as “threatened” means they’re likely to become endangered. Endangered species are in immediate danger of extinction in all or a significant part of their natural range.
Proposals to list species as threatened or endangered usually become official in one year, Gorman said.
Federal and state biologists already are talking about how to change hatchery steelhead programs to protect wild steelhead, Gorman said.
Jeff Koenings, state Fish and Wildlife director, said his agency is talking to federal biologists about changes in steelhead hatchery operations.
The goal is to keep hatchery fish and wild fish from breeding.
“We’re looking at how we can segregate or isolate them,” Koenings said.
State anglers might see shorter or changed seasons on some rivers, so they don’t put too much catch-and-release pressure on wild steelhead while fishing for hatchery steelhead, Koenings said.
Most Puget Sound rivers are already catch-and-release for wild steelhead, but being caught too many times can hurt the fish — especially as they near spawning, said Nick Gayeski, a resource analyst for Washington Trout — a state fish advocacy group.
The state already has started working on improving habitat for Puget Sound chinook salmon, and some of that work will help steelhead.
But steelhead rivers and streams need more water and more protection against development, Koenings said.
Some rivers, such as the upper Skagit, might become sanctuaries for wild steelhead, and no hatchery fish will be allowed, Koenings said.
Fish and Wildlife, along with the state’s treaty tribes, has studied the biological status of steelhead for the past two years, Koenings said.
A report, which will be issued in May, will start the process of creating new ways to protect and enhance wild steelhead populations,
Koenings said.
People shouldn’t blame anglers for the wild steelhead decline, as they’ve been using catch-and-release on wild fish, Wright said.
The Endangered Species Act doesn’t always work perfectly, but it’s the best shot at survival, Gorman said. The slide to extinction has been slowed — or halted — in many cases. It’s not too late for wild Puget Sound steelhead, but the next five years are key, Koenings said.
“We’ve got to get going right now.”
Chester Allen is outdoors reporter for The Olympian. He can be reached at 360-754-4226 or [email protected].
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By Chester Allen
The Olympian
Wild Puget Sound steelhead are one step — and one year — away from protection under the Endangered Species Act.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration proposed Wednesday to list the fish — which are big, oceangoing rainbow trout — as a threatened species under the act. The move instantly gives the fish more clout against land developers, more habitat protection, more water in rivers and streams — and could spell big changes in state and tribal fish hatcheries.
The proposal also is huge vindication for Sam Wright, a fish biologist of 42 years and former biologist for the state Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Wright filed a petition to protect wild steelhead in September 2004, which convinced a panel of federal fisheries scientists after other petitions to list Puget Sound steelhead failed. A 1996 petition was rejected.
“Obviously, Puget Sound wild steelhead are in trouble, and the only chance they’ve got is the Endangered Species Act,” Wright said from his Olympia home. “They’ve been in a pretty significant decline, especially for the last 10 years.”
Puget Sound wild steelhead are popular with anglers, and many consider them the most spectacular fish in the Northwest.
The listing would force a modification of hatchery operations so hatchery steelhead and wild steelhead don’t get a chance to interbreed, Wright said.
Hatchery steelhead are usually from two stocks — Chambers Creek winter steelhead or Skamania summer steelhead.
The trouble is that wild steelhead have evolved to do well in their particular home river, and interbreeding with fish from another watershed dilutes their ability to survive and changes the characteristics of the native fish.
Wild steelhead streams and rivers — where the fish spawn and where the young steelhead live for one to three years before heading for salt water — also need more protection against land development.
The streams also need more water — especially in the summer months, Wright said.
All of this would have a big effect on how humans use the rivers and forests, allocate water, generate electricity and build homes, roads and buildings.
If the proposal becomes official, Puget Sound steelhead will join Puget Sound chinook salmon and bull trout on the endangered species list.
NOAA will make a final decision on the listing in one year — after more study, consultation with the state Department of Fish and Wildlife and public hearings, said Brian Gorman, NOAA spokesman.
Public hearings and written comments will be completed by June 27.
The proposal to list the fish as “threatened” means they’re likely to become endangered. Endangered species are in immediate danger of extinction in all or a significant part of their natural range.
Proposals to list species as threatened or endangered usually become official in one year, Gorman said.
Federal and state biologists already are talking about how to change hatchery steelhead programs to protect wild steelhead, Gorman said.
Jeff Koenings, state Fish and Wildlife director, said his agency is talking to federal biologists about changes in steelhead hatchery operations.
The goal is to keep hatchery fish and wild fish from breeding.
“We’re looking at how we can segregate or isolate them,” Koenings said.
State anglers might see shorter or changed seasons on some rivers, so they don’t put too much catch-and-release pressure on wild steelhead while fishing for hatchery steelhead, Koenings said.
Most Puget Sound rivers are already catch-and-release for wild steelhead, but being caught too many times can hurt the fish — especially as they near spawning, said Nick Gayeski, a resource analyst for Washington Trout — a state fish advocacy group.
The state already has started working on improving habitat for Puget Sound chinook salmon, and some of that work will help steelhead.
But steelhead rivers and streams need more water and more protection against development, Koenings said.
Some rivers, such as the upper Skagit, might become sanctuaries for wild steelhead, and no hatchery fish will be allowed, Koenings said.
Fish and Wildlife, along with the state’s treaty tribes, has studied the biological status of steelhead for the past two years, Koenings said.
A report, which will be issued in May, will start the process of creating new ways to protect and enhance wild steelhead populations,
Koenings said.
People shouldn’t blame anglers for the wild steelhead decline, as they’ve been using catch-and-release on wild fish, Wright said.
The Endangered Species Act doesn’t always work perfectly, but it’s the best shot at survival, Gorman said. The slide to extinction has been slowed — or halted — in many cases. It’s not too late for wild Puget Sound steelhead, but the next five years are key, Koenings said.
“We’ve got to get going right now.”
Chester Allen is outdoors reporter for The Olympian. He can be reached at 360-754-4226 or [email protected].
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