North Umpqua Coalition asks ODFW to Reduce Harm to Imperiled Summer Steelhead Populations

“The current scientific literature clearly shows substantial adverse impacts to wild Steelhead populations from interactions with hatchery fish. In addition to reduced fitness from genetic integration among the spawning populations, other factors; such as competition, predation, disease transmission, and altered predator survival and behavior begin as soon as juveniles are released into the natural environment” says Jeff Dose, longtime Fisheries Biologist with the Umpqua National Forest.