Skip to main content

Lawsuit Filed to Stop Elwha Hatchery Program

Lawsuit Filed to Stop Elwha Hatchery Program
Map courtesy of USGS

Wild Fish Conservancy, The Conservation Angler, the Federation of Fly Fishers Steelhead Committee, and the Wild Steelhead Coalition filed a lawsuit last week against the Olympic National Park, NOAA Fisheries Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and representatives of the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe in an effort to save the Elwha River's native steelhead, chinook salmon, and the killer whales in Puget Sound that depend upon these fish.  The suit claims by operating a fish hatchery on the Elwha River, these groups are violating the Endangered Species Act.

The US government spent $325 million to remove the (damn) dam on the Elwha, creating an unprecedented chance to restore native salmon populations that had never been tainted by hatchery fish genetics.   The dam, while separating anadromous fish from their ocean, ensured no hatchery salmon made it to the upriver spawning grounds.  Now with the dam gone, anadromous fish can once again migrate to the sea, and all evidence suggests the river should expect impressive returns of purely wild salmon in the coming years.

Nonetheless, the government agencies charged with recovering wild salmon in the Elwha have bowed to the Klallam Tribe's desire to build a massive hatchery in the basin that will fill the river with various salmon species, including Chamber's Creek steelhead--an inbred stock selected because it survives well in cement holding tanks.  The agencies call the hatchery a "recovery tool," but all science on the matter suggests otherwise.

Though the tribe too wants wild salmon to thrive, they want to protect their traditions of harvesting salmon.  They see the hatchery as an insurance policy; in case the wild fish are slow to recovery, the tribe members will still have fish to kill.  Unfortunately, that "insurance policy" may become the very factor that hamstrings wild fish recovery.

The conservation groups are represented by Smith and Lowney, PLLC, of Seattle.  A response is expected shortly.

Map courtesy of USGS




GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Recommended Articles

Recent Videos

Former U.S. President, humanitarian, and avid fly angler Jimmy Carter passed away at age 100. Carter entered hospice car...
How-To/Techniques

Nymphing Is A Drag

Former U.S. President, humanitarian, and avid fly angler Jimmy Carter passed away at age 100. Carter entered hospice car...
Fly Tying

Blane Chocklett: fly-tying innovator & guide, reveals new flies & relationship with Lefty and ASGA

Former U.S. President, humanitarian, and avid fly angler Jimmy Carter passed away at age 100. Carter entered hospice car...
News

Jay Nichols

Former U.S. President, humanitarian, and avid fly angler Jimmy Carter passed away at age 100. Carter entered hospice car...
How-To/Techniques

Ed Jaworowski, a lifetime of studying the physics of fly casting

Former U.S. President, humanitarian, and avid fly angler Jimmy Carter passed away at age 100. Carter entered hospice car...
How-To/Techniques

Ed Jaworowski's Functional Fly Casting Part 2: Rotation & Leverage

Former U.S. President, humanitarian, and avid fly angler Jimmy Carter passed away at age 100. Carter entered hospice car...
How-To/Techniques

Fly Tier's Bench: Max's Mess Maker (MMM)

Former U.S. President, humanitarian, and avid fly angler Jimmy Carter passed away at age 100. Carter entered hospice car...
News

Lefty: The Greatest of All Time

Former U.S. President, humanitarian, and avid fly angler Jimmy Carter passed away at age 100. Carter entered hospice car...
Gear

DIY Airbrushing on Popper Heads

Former U.S. President, humanitarian, and avid fly angler Jimmy Carter passed away at age 100. Carter entered hospice car...
Gear

Trailer: The Kids Are Alright

Former U.S. President, humanitarian, and avid fly angler Jimmy Carter passed away at age 100. Carter entered hospice car...
Gear

Fly Tier's Bench: How to Tie Craven's Lil Bit Nymph

Former U.S. President, humanitarian, and avid fly angler Jimmy Carter passed away at age 100. Carter entered hospice car...
How-To/Techniques

Ed Jaworowski's Functional Fly Casting Part 1: Acceleration

Former U.S. President, humanitarian, and avid fly angler Jimmy Carter passed away at age 100. Carter entered hospice car...
News

Jimmy Carter Was One of Us

Fly Fisherman Magazine Covers Print and Tablet Versions

GET THE MAGAZINE Subscribe & Save

Digital Now Included!

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Give a Gift   |   Subscriber Services

PREVIEW THIS MONTH'S ISSUE

Buy Digital Single Issues

Magazine App Logo

Don't miss an issue.
Buy single digital issue for your phone or tablet.

Get the Fly Fisherman App apple store google play store

Other Magazines

See All Other Magazines

Special Interest Magazines

See All Special Interest Magazines

GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Get the top Fly Fisherman stories delivered right to your inbox.

Phone Icon

Get Digital Access.

All Fly Fisherman subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets.

To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine.

Get Digital Access

Not a Subscriber?
Subscribe Now

Enjoying What You're Reading?

Get a Full Year
of Guns & Ammo
& Digital Access.

Offer only for new subscribers.

Subscribe Now

Never Miss a Thing.

Get the Newsletter

Get the top Fly Fisherman stories delivered right to your inbox.

By signing up, I acknowledge that my email address is valid, and have read and accept the Terms of Use