For Immediate Release
May 21, 2004
Contact: Les Johnson
Phone: 425-869-4254
e-mail: les.johnson5@verizon.net

WILD STEELHEAD ALLIANCE SUMMIT IV DRAWS CROWD
By Les Johnson
The fourth Wild Steelhead Alliance Summit hosted by the Wild Steelhead Coalition with grant support from Patagonia, Inc., met at the Sheraton Hotel in Bellevue on Saturday, May 15. Jack Berryman, past-president of the Wild Steelhead Coalition opened the proceedings. Berryman was followed by Dave Bailey, Summit Chair and Dick Burge who introduced the morning session on hatchery reform. The day-long meeting was attended by 42 people who represented twenty-one fishing and conservation organizations that are members of the Alliance which supports the Wild Steelhead Coalition and its commitment to protect wild steelhead.
The morning lineup blue-ribbon list of speakers included; Lee Blankenship of the Hatchery Scientific Review Group, who addressed Principles and Recommendations for Hatchery Reform, and Kaitlin Lovell of Trout Unlimited, who introduced The Trout Unlimited Hatchery Policy. Ramon Vanden Brulle of Washington Trout spoke on Hatchery Genetic Management Nathan Mantua of the Wild Steelhead Coalition capped the morning’s proceedings with a talk on the Summit Hatchery Committee Draft Policy.

After the morning break, a lively panel discussion on Washington Hatchery Reform headed by Dick Burge, included; Lee Blankenship, Barbara Cairns of Long Live the Kings, Kaitlin Lovell, Nathan Mantua of Wild Steelhead Coalition and Nick Gayeski of Washington Trout.
Barry Berejikian of NOAA opened the afternoon session with a report on the Hamma Hamma Steelhead Research Project. Jack Berryman followed with committee reports. Rob Masonis of American Rivers, briefed attendees on the Columbia and Snake Rivers Hydro Systems. Bill Redman representing the Federation of Fly Fishers Steelhead Committee talked about ESA steelhead listings and catch-and-release mortality. Steve Mashuda of Earthjustice updated attendees on the Central Valley (Irrigators) Steelhead case. Norm Ploss of the Northern California Chapter of Federation of Fly Fishers talked about the California Coastal Conservancy Fish Passage Barrier Removal Program.
The final session of the day covered education and public outreach, law enforcement by Jim Tuggle, the proposed rewrite of the steelhead management plan by the Department of Fish and Wildlife and a report from the harvest committee. Dave Bailey discussed the importance of communication between all of the organizations in the Alliance and answered questions on planning for the next Summit which is scheduled for November. Jack Berryman closed the meeting.
Detailed information on the subjects covered at the Wild Steelhead Alliance Summit can be viewed on the web sites of; Wild Steelhead Coalition, Long Live the Kings, Save our Wild Salmon, Washington Trout, Trout Unlimited, American Rivers and Federation of Fly Fishers. If you or members of your group would like to have additional information, or are interested in attending the next Wild Steelhead Alliance Summit, contact; Dave Bailey at captain@olypen.com’ or Les Johnson at les.johnson5@verizon.net