Let’s Keep the Fish and Wildlife Commission
by John McGlenn

In 1995 the legislature forwarded Referendum 45 to broaden the authority of the citizen Fish and Wildlife Commission for a public vote. It passed in every county of Washington. Now the legislature is considering passage of Senate Bill 5127 that would overturn the 1995 vote of the people and reverse progress we have made to strengthen the grassroots support for Washington's Fish and Wildlife. SB 5127 would reduce the number of Commissioners, shorten their terms and strip them of all significant responsibility and authority.

SB 5127 would blatantly reject a decision made by the voters as recently as 1995. It would also put fish and wildlife at risk from harmful policies that inevitably arise in a government system such as ours where elected officials face immense political pressure from special interests.

Setting policies and adopting wildlife classifications and regulations for managing fish and wildlife are tough assignments. New housing, industrial developments, agriculture, timber and mineral extraction, hydropower and transportation routinely compete for the habitat and water essential for healthy fish and wildlife populations. Commercial and recreational fishing and hunting opportunities must also be balanced with the long-term health of the resource. Our elected leaders deal with a vast array of complex issues from all reaches of industry and society and sometimes, by necessity must make compromises they would prefer not to make. However, a citizen Commission appointed by the Governor, with the background, knowledge, longevity and sufficient authority provides the necessary expertise and independence to buffer fish and wildlife policies from these inevitable pressures.

SB 5127 would not produce cost savings. Instead the long-term negative impact to the state's fish and wildlife resources would translate into significant net economic costs. Funding for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and other natural resource agencies is and remains embarrassingly low. All of our natural resource agencies, including WDFW, receive only 1.4% of the general fund. Citizens provide about one-third of the entire WDFW budget through license fees, and therefore should retain their voice in policy decisions. Non-profit organizations such as the Audubon Society, Ducks Unlimited, Nature Conservancy, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Puget Sound Anglers and many other groups partner with the Department and support programs through significant volunteer-hours. The Commission is the Department's key link with individual citizens and volunteer organizations. Commission public workshops and hearings are vital forums in which the public's voice is heard. Also, commissioners often make themselves available to citizens and stakeholder groups at no cost to the state.

I had the privilege of serving on the Fish and Wildlife Commission for 12 years under three Governors. Those years gave me an immense appreciation for the difficult challenges facing our Department to both maximize opportunity for all while putting conservation first. I learned that a passion for fish and wildlife and the need for independence to protect and sustain them are essential ingredients for an effective Commission. Nothing is perfect in this complex world, but the Commission system has served our fish and wildlife well since 1933. Qualified citizen appointees who place the resource first and require staff to manage based on the best science available will continue to produce the sustainable policies Washington citizens demand. Please retain our citizen Fish and Wildlife Commission structure with authority by urging your legislators and the Governor to oppose SB 5127.

• To Find and Contact your Legislator

April 2nd 2009 Letter from WSC President (Rich Simms) to Whole Foods Market Inc. Excerpt: We are writing you to respectfully request that Whole Foods Market abstain from the purchase and sale of wild steelhead. The Wild Steelhead Coalition (WSC) is an organization that is dedicated to increasing the return of wild steelhead to the rivers and waters of the Pacific Northwest. The WSC has been working to ban the intentional harvest of wild steelhead, a Washington State symbol, since our inception in 2000, and selling them for food defeats these efforts. Entire letter sent to Whole Foods Inc.

March 30th 2009, The WSC would like to give a special thanks to Keith Beverly of Bainbridge Island. Keith has just become this year's first lifetime member. He now joins the exclusive list five other members who have pledged at the $750 level of support. The lifetime list is as follows: WSC Lifetime Members Steve Choate Wayne Schiffman Bill Robinson Tim Pask Andrew Turner Keith Beverly

March 16th 2009, Wild salmon are the backbone of the BC Coast. On February 9, 2009 BC Supreme Court ruled that salmon farms are a fishery and a federal responsibility. The science is in. The feedlot fishery is damaging wild salmon stocks worldwide (Ford and Myers 2008). Fraser sockeye and all southcoast BC salmon and steelhead are now at risk as a result of the Provincial policy of allowing the feedlot fishery to use Canada's most valuable wild salmon habitat . Petition to Protect Wild Salmon written by Alexandra Morton March 15th 2009, Dear Senator Rodney Tom, Rep. Ross Hunter and Rep. Deborah Eddy, I would like to share a letter that outlines the case against 5127 written by Wild Steelhead Coalition Trustee John McGlenn. As the President of the Wild Steelhead Coalition, I request that our Senators and Representatives DO NOT support this ill-conceived Bill. This will turn back the clock of progress that as been made to have a public input to the fish and wildlife of our great state. 5127 will make our fish and wildlife more vulnerable to increasing environmental and usage pressures. Please keep the Fish and Wildlife Commission intact! Sincerely, Wild Steelhead Coalition Rich Simms President Let's Keep the Fish and Wildlife Commission by John McGlenn In 1995 the legislature forwarded Referendum 45 to broaden the authority of the citizen Fish and Wildlife Commission for a public vote. It passed in every county of Washington. Now the legislature is considering passage of Senate Bill 5127 that would overturn the 1995 vote of the people and reverse progress we have made to strengthen the grassroots support for Washington's Fish and Wildlife. SB 5127 would reduce the number of Commissioners, shorten their terms and strip them of all significant responsibility and authority. SB 5127 would blatantly reject a decision made by the voters as recently as 1995. It would also put fish and wildlife at risk from harmful policies that inevitably arise in a government system such as ours where elected officials face immense political pressure from special interests. Setting policies and adopting wildlife classifications and regulations for managing fish and wildlife are tough assignments. New housing, industrial developments, agriculture, timber and mineral extraction, hydropower and transportation routinely compete for the habitat and water essential for healthy fish and wildlife populations. Commercial and recreational fishing and hunting opportunities must also be balanced with the long-term health of the resource. Our elected leaders deal with a vast array of complex issues from all reaches of industry and society and sometimes, by necessity must make compromises they would prefer not to make. However, a citizen Commission appointed by the Governor, with the background, knowledge, longevity and sufficient authority provides the necessary expertise and independence to buffer fish and wildlife policies from these inevitable pressures. SB 5127 would not produce cost savings. Instead the long-term negative impact to the state's fish and wildlife resources would translate into significant net economic costs. Funding for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and other natural resource agencies is and remains embarrassingly low. All of our natural resource agencies, including WDFW, receive only 1.4% of the general fund. Citizens provide about one-third of the entire WDFW budget through license fees, and therefore should retain their voice in policy decisions. Non-profit organizations such as the Audubon Society, Ducks Unlimited, Nature Conservancy, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Puget Sound Anglers and many other groups partner with the Department and support programs through significant volunteer-hours. The Commission is the Department's key link with individual citizens and volunteer organizations. Commission public workshops and hearings are vital forums in which the public's voice is heard. Also, commissioners often make themselves available to citizens and stakeholder groups at no cost to the state. I had the privilege of serving on the Fish and Wildlife Commission for 12 years under three Governors. Those years gave me an immense appreciation for the difficult challenges facing our Department to both maximize opportunity for all while putting conservation first. I learned that a passion for fish and wildlife and the need for independence to protect and sustain them are essential ingredients for an effective Commission. Nothing is perfect in this complex world, but the Commission system has served our fish and wildlife well since 1933. Qualified citizen appointees who place the resource first and require staff to manage based on the best science available will continue to produce the sustainable policies Washington citizens demand. Please retain our citizen Fish and Wildlife Commission structure with authority by urging your legislators and the Governor to oppose SB 5127. To Find and Contact your Legislator
February 28th 2009, As many of you have surely heard a potential record wild steelhead was killed last February on the Hoh River, see link below.

While legal, it is certainly tragic that this magnificent fish was selfishly killed and not delivered back to the stream to propagate future fish to the gene pool. Although the size of this fish garners much attention, we also have to remember that all sizes of steelhead contribute to the diversity of the gene pool and it is also tragic that these fish continue to be killed under failed and misguided management schemes.

As many of you know, the Hoh River was chosen as one of the Wild Steelhead Coalition’s projects this year.  The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and the co-managers have continuous disagreements and potential litigation action on escapement levels and the co-managers continue to argue for higher share of the harvest rate, while many anglers choose to return their fish unharmed to spawning population. The Hoh has been highly irregular in meeting it's escapement levels in the last decade and is in danger of going to the way side of so many other great steelhead streams. The rules still allow sport harvest on the river and is under increased pressure has a convergence of many more anglers crowd it's waters as other rivers are either listed or seasons shortened to protect wild steelhead runs, often as reactive measure.

Here we have a river that includes the needed habitat to support wild fish as well as further habitat protected through the efforts of the Hoh River Trust. There is no hydro, no hatchery, (although it is stocked with hatchery fish), it's a shame that the only thing standing in the way of the Hoh is continued aggressive harvest strategies that the river cannot support.

We have control to reverse this trend as conservationist-lets do it!  It is the hope that this selfish act can engage anglers in some way to demand better conservation to one of the last great wild steelhead rivers before it is too late.

Wild Steelhead Coalition
Rich Simms
WSC President

• Seattle Times - A once-in-a-lifetime catch for Port Townsend angler

February 11th 2009, Rich Simms, President of the WSC was featured in the article below. It was published in the Seattle Times Pacific Magazine and written by Lynda V. Mapes. The article focuses on the importance of the Wild and Scenic designation in the protection of rivers. The river being reported on is the Skykomish. Also please note the real nice clean shaven headshots taken of Pres. Rich Simms while rowing a drift backwards, all taken by the assignment photographer Mark Harrison.

• The Seattle Times: The Skykomish: A case study in why protection as a Wild and Scenic River matters.

We at the Wild Steelhead Coalition feel that "Rivers of a Lost Cost" is an important film for both anglers and the general public because of the strong conservation message it bears. The take home message for all of us who care about wild steelhead is to act before it is too late!

• Trailer for the Rivers of the Lost Coast

• The Official Wild Steelhead Coalition History in 10 pages

• The Adipose January-February 2009 Edition

The Fly Boys hope to bring this film to Seattle at some point. However, they have given us the OK to show it to our members at the meeting. The film runs around an hour and a half and by the end you don't want it to stop! Watching steelhead eat dead drifted dries never seems to get old. The producers did an excellent job of handling and making sure the fish were all released unharmed. The film also is more about the mysterious pursuit of the fish instead of the ego driven films which are more common today.

The film makers are also donating 5% of the films proceeds to wild steelhead conservation. We really hope you can all make this event as it is a great way for us to start of the new year.

• Directions to the Membership Meeting and private showing
• Official Meeting Announcement

• Heard the Buzz round the world on Steelhead?

• Full Text of Coalition's Letter to the Governor of Washington

In addition to the FlyBoys' film "Raising The Ghost," clips of AEG's "Metalhead," Steve Apple's "Hustle and Fish," and a host of other new steelhead media was presented. WSC Trustee, Dylan Tomine, read from his "State of the Steelhead" essay, and member Jeff Bright presented his "In The House of Mykiss" slide show. Patagonia's Blake Nicolazzo presented WSC President Rich Simms with a check for $5000 from the sale of World Trout T-Shirts to thunderous applause. Trout Unlimited's new VP of Western Conservation, Rob Masonis, gave an impassioned plea for greater angler involvement.

"It was a spectacular event. The level of support, interest and enthusiasm for steelhead conservation was truly gratifying, and it made me more hopeful than I've felt in a long time," Tomine said.

The WSC would like to recognize and thank Patagonia for their generous donation to the Wild Steelhead Coalition and the FlyBoys for organizing and hosting the event and donating the proceeds to the WildSteelhead Coalition and Trout Unlimited. Be sure to catch their new film"Raising the Ghost" which weaves an important conservation message into the story of their quest to find the elusive, free-rising steelhead deep in the heart of British Columbia.

• First hand account of the highly attended Wild Steelhead Festival in Bozeman, MT

• Full details from the WDFS website

• Petition on the Skena Watershed Conservation Coalition website

The Bristol Bay region of southwest Alaska is home to the Kvichak and Nushagak rivers, the two most prolific sockeye salmon runs left in the world. Two mining companies, Northern Dynasty Minerals and Anglo American, have proposed an open-pit and under-ground mine at the headwaters of the two rivers. The area is the second largest deposit of copper, gold and molybdenum ever discovered and has an estimated value of more than $300 billion. Despite promises of a clean project by mining officials, the accident-plagued history of hard rock mining has wrought one of the biggest land use issues Alaska has ever faced. Red Gold is our attempt to give a face to the issue, and give a voice to the people of Bristol Bay who depend on this extraordinary fishery. We set out to create a different kind of environmental documentary--one that gives all sides a chance to be seen and heard. Red Gold is more about the place and its people than the facts and numbers. For the first time, Bristol Bay's subsistence, commercial and sport-fishing communities have joined together for a common cause. Written by Felt Soul Media

• The very high quality and interesting site that details the movie

• Overcrowding on certain waters at certain times
• Large numbers of non-guided, non-resident anglers contributing to overcrowding
• Importance of non-guided, non-resident anglers to the local economy
• Need for more resident opportunities to fish for steelhead

• Please fill out this survey to help the Skeena survive

• Full Text of Coalition's Letter to Monterey Bay Aquarium

• Festival's Announcement

Steelhead Summit November 15th

The WSC will Host the Steelhead Summit Alliance. The intention of the Summit is to bring clubs and organizations together to discuss contemporary issues and science regarding steelhead and create a unified voice for steelhead to work together and reverse their plight. If you are a member of another club or organization, please urge your leadership to become involved and send representatives to the SSA.

• Summit Steelhead Page (hosted by the WSC)

PayPal Donation form for the Summit Steelhead Alliance

• Full Text of Coalition's Letter of Comment to the WDFW

• Festival's Announcement

• Obituary in the Seattle Times about Dee

• Summer 2008 Adipose

• Supporting C&R for wild Umpqua steelhead
• WSC response to the ODFW regarding the Angling Rules Proposal

• Article: Coal bed methane threatens the Skeena Headwaters

March, 10th 2008, As many of you are aware the WSC has been providing input on this plan all the way through the process and it has been through that process the WSC has been able to help make this a stronger management plan that will be state's guiding policy for steelhead conservation management in the years to come. Our plan moving forward is to continue to be involved with the WDFW and Commission by providing input to steelhead management decisions and ensure accountability by the department to make the best decisions, based on sound science to help ensure recovery of wild steelhead. Thanks to all the WSC members who have helped us along the way and who provided testimony to the WDFW! Stay tuned...

• WdFW Commission approves state plan to rebuild wild steelhead stocks

February, 5th 2008, The testimony to the Fish and Wildlife Commission took place Saturday. It went well. Thanks to all who supported by showing up to provide testimony or by mailing in your comments. You will find below two documents used in the testimony that may be of interest to those that went and those who didn't and would like to read some of the content used for the event. The science paper was commissioned and paid for by the WSC for the testimony.

• WSC commissioned report - A Review of the Washington State Steelhead Management Plan
• Supporting research article given to the WdFW board - Reproductive Success of Captive-Bred Steelhead Trout in the Wild: Evaluation of Three Hatchery Programs in the Hood River
• President's (Rich Simms) Testimony at February 2/2/08 Commission Hearing for WdFW Steelhead Management Plan
• Currently proposed WdFW Statewide Steelhead Management Plan

• Wild Steelhead Management 2-2-08 Testimony Talking Points

• WSC Members and Supporters Update for January 2008

• Dick Burge's Article from Osprey May 2007
• Dylan Tomine's Article from Salmon Trout Steelheader Summer 2007

"In our fathers' generation, they witnessed the complete collapse of the California steelhead fishery. In our generation, it was the famed rivers of Puget Sound. What's next? We're currently standing on the edge of the cliff and tie is running out. If we're going to do anything to save the wild steelhead, we have to do it now."

-Dr. Nathan Mantua, Research Professor, University of Washington School of Aquatic and Fisheries Sciences

December 27th 2007, The lifetime membership roles are growing at 400% a month, The WSC's third and fourth LIFETIME members have recently joined. Lets all congratulate Andrew Turner and Wayne Schiffman for their outstanding lifetime commitment to the recovery and survival of Wild Steelhead.
-To join Steve, Tim, Andrew, and Wayne in the ultimate WSC commitment follow this link

December 19th 2007, WSC's second LIFETIME member is Steve Choate who is a good friend of Tim Pask the 1st LIFETIME member (see below). Steve is excited about spreading the word to his friends and corporate contacts he deals with day to day.
-To join Steve and Tim in the highest tier of WSC support and commit at the highest level

December 12th 2007, WSC's first LIFETIME member is Tim Pask.  He joined just today and is the first to choose to support the WSC at the highest level for an individual.
-For those who would like to join Tim in the top tier of commitment

December 6th 2007, Save the date for the 2008 awards banquet and Auction - Saturday March 1st, 2008.
-Save the date announcement pamphlet and details

November 15th 2007, Winter issue of The Adipose (Newsletter of the Wild Steelhead Coalition) is released.
-November 2007 Adipose

November 2nd 2007, WSC Letter to Senator Maria Cantwell advising her on the Environment and Public Works Committee Hearing regarding the Columbia-Snake River Salmon & Steelhead:
-WSC Letter to Senator Maria Cantwell

November 1st 2007, WSC Written testimony regarding sport fishing rule proposals:
-WSC Testimony 2008 Rules

October 29th 2007, WSC Member Meeting Nov., 7th: The Meeting starts with a Happy Hour at 6 followed by the presentation topic: Puget Sound Steelhead and the ESA presenters are from NOAA and the WDFW
-Full Meeting Announcement and Directions

September 20th 2007, WSC Survey for Current and X-Members: The Board is currently engaged in an evaluation of their long term planning process and felt that your input would be of great value in their evaluation.
-WSC Survey

September 6th 2007, WSC Comments on the Draft EIS for the Proposed Statewide Steelhead Management Plan
-Official WSC Comments
Supporting Documents:
-WSC Comments on Grandy Creek for Draft EIS
-WSC Comments on WDFW Steelhead Assessment

September 1st 2007, The WSC Board of Directors would like to thank all of those who donated so generously for the 2007 Auction. Here is the list of people and business that we would like to thank.
-2007 Benefit Donors List

August 15th 2007, WSC recommendations and guidance were the tipping point for the new No-Wild-Kill ruling on Oregon's Umpqua
-Testimony from the Hearing - Jon Lund
-WSC Comments to Oregon DF and W on proposed rule change
-Umpqua gains wild steelhead protection 8/9/2007 Mail Tribune - OR