Wild-fish groups to sue over Elwha River hatchery

SEATTLE — Wild-fish advocates say they plan to sue federal and Washington state agencies over a fish hatchery built as part of the Elwha River restoration project.

Wild Fish Conservancy and others say the hatchery threatens the recovery of salmon and other threatened fish. They say the process did not go through proper review.

The groups filed the 60-day notice of intent to sue late last week. It names the National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, NOAA Fisheries Service, the Washington state Department of Fish and Wildlife and others.

NOAA's Will Stelle told the Seattle Times (http://bit.ly/oh6ZBO) the hatchery program has been open to review.

Over the weekend, hundreds gathered at the Elwha Dam on Washington's Olympic Peninsula to witness the start of the project to remove two dams.