What is the Tumwater Hatchery (aka Deschutes Watershed Center) and why is it important to Case Inlet/North Bay and the future of the Coulter Creek hatchery?

Today the Coulter Creek Hatchery, located at the head of Case Inlet raises 4 million smolts.  100% of these fish are transported to the Tumwater Hatchery facility located on the Deschutes River in Tumwater.  When the Tumwater renewal project is completed, they will be able to rear their own fish and this should make available the fish currently being raised each year at Coulter Creek for alternative release (ideally in North Bay).

Here are a few useful links regarding the importance and progress of the Tumwater facility.

https://nwsportsmanmag.com/wa-lawmaker-budgets-millions-apart-on-2-key-salmon-issues/

https://squaxin-nr.org/category/deschutes-watershed-center/

https://nsiafishing.org/general/sportfishing-advocates-urge-funding-for-wa-deschutes-river-watershed-center-and-salmon-hatchery/

What is the difference between commercial fish farming and using net pens to rear salmon smolts?

Commercial fish farming for salmon or steelhead is the practice of raising fish from smolts to full maturity to ultimately harvest the adult salmon.  This is done in stationary net pens anchored in the water.  Due to environmental concerns and risks to native fish stocks, this practice has been banned in Washington (as well as in California, Oregon, Alaska and Canada).  The link below describes the recent ban in Washington.

Net pens on the other hand are used to rear salmon smolts until they are mature enough to be released.  This typically involves keeping the fish in the net pens for 2-4 months.  Once the fish are released, the net pens are either removed or remain empty until new smolts are ready the following year.  

https://www.knkx.org/environment/2022-11-19/washington-ends-commercial-net-pen-fish-farming-in-state-waters