SMALMA: I think your points are well taken, and why shouldn't they be, you are on the front lines. PLEASE never think I do not respect your work. I do! It drives me crazy when some guys argue that WDFW is trying to mismanage our resources. I see you and others on the front lines doing all you can to help and getting constantly attacked. If it looked to you like I was attacking you, I am truly sorry. I know you were instrumental in the Skagit system bull trout recovery. We seldom hear much about WDFW's success stories.

Please tell us, in your educated opinion, why so many wild salmon and steelhead runs are continuing to decline in rivers with little catch and kill, no dams and relatively intact headwaters. I have been asked the question many times, but never have felt I knew the answer. If there is no one answer. What do you see as the major factors?