And he’s not the only one concerned about the integrated plan’s sockeye population projections.
Stephen Katz, a Washington State University professor of environmental science, said the projections rely on unrealistic growth rates.
“The population would have to grow at an extraordinarily high rate for 30 years to meet their targets,” said Katz, who reviewed the fish estimates as part of an independent benefit-cost analysis of the plan. Sustaining that sort of growth will be extra challenging when some summers are likely to be extremely hot and dry, like this past one, he added.