I received the following email. I am not intending to start any flames here, just to pass along some info so people can comment.
_______________________________
Sent: Monday, March 31, 2003 2:04 PM
Subject: Hoh River Update and Olympic National Park Reg. Comment Period
Hi everyone,
I wanted to update everyone on two things:
1) The Olympic National Park is accepting public comments through April 18,
2003 on their regulation package proposals, the package can be found at the
following website:
http://www.nps.gov/olym/press/fishchange.htm 2) For the 2002/2003 winter steelhead management season the Hoh Tribe
proposed a schedule that would take 396 more wild winter steelhead than
authorized under, what we understand to be, separate 50:50 sharing of the
hatchery and wild runs. The State filed a request for a hearing and an
injunction to halt the tribal fishery (3 days of fishing). Affidavits and
briefs were written by WDFW, Washington Attorney General's Office, tribal
biological staff and the tribal attorney. On March 25, 2003 a conference
call hearing was conducted with Federal Court Judge The Honorable Barbara
Rothstein. The judge decided not to rule on the State's request and the
tribe will fish through April 2, 2003.
The State will be preparing for a court hearing on this issue over the next
several months. The court wishes to keep, whether or not to manage hatchery
and wild winter steelhead separately to the Hoh River only. A court
decision to manage the hatchery and wild steelhead runs as one run has far
reaching ramifications and has the potential to impact our sport
catch-and-release fisheries.
If you would like more information give me a call.
bl
***********************************************************
Bob Leland
Steelhead Program Manager
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
600 Capitol Way North
Olympia, WA 98501
lelanrfl@dfw.wa.gov
360-902-2817
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