Rich,

I think you nailed it...assuming the plan gets approved (two years late), then everyone gets what they want and what is required by the ESA.

Joe,

I'm not understanding why you resent WT using the legal system to force WDFW to follow the law. None of us who fish want to see hatcheries that provide scientifically sound fisheries to close, but don't we all have a stake in properly and legally run hatcheries? Ones that aren't subject to legal challenges, and thereby supply a reliable source of fish and fishing?

Whatever WT's motivation was in filing the lawsuit, they can't stop hatchery operations that are legal just because of their perceived dislike of hatcheries in general.

And lastly, don't forget where the root of this problem lies. It lies in the imposition of the ESA on PS Chinook, and it lies at the feet of WDFW for not creating an RMP that was either timely or sufficient to satisfy the ESA. Neither of those were WT's fault.

Would it be better to allow WDFW's continuing violation of the ESA, trusting them to eventually create a legal RMP for running the chinook hatcheries? Would you trust them to "eventually" create a legal plan for the tangle net fishery on the Columbia springers, or would you rather push hard to force them either to make it legal or quit it?

If you answer differently to those questions, why? What is the difference?

FIsh on...

Todd.