The new hatchery on the Clearwater is controversial because it will incubate salmon and then release some of the fish fry into rivers in places where wild fish would spawn. The goal is for them to return as adults to the release site, and breed on their own. The tribe already has coaxed a few coho salmon to spawn in Clearwater River tributaries after the species had disappeared in the wild. But federal and state biologists fear the process will weaken the genetic purity of the salmon. The Nez Perce hatchery plan underwent 13 years of scientific review before the Northwest Power Planning Council approved it.
Nature is in a time of crisis.
In order to not need this hatchery, other changes need to be done. Those four dams need to come out. We need a new Lewiston seaport strategy. The recreational industry needs to look at recovery of the ecosystem. Such talk rings shrill in the ears of Bruce Lovelin.