"So what’s the real cost of losing a world-class fishery? Can you ever really get it back?"

Can't tell you but the Yellowstone River is not the only place where a world class fishery has disapeared. The Skagit River in NW Washington had a steelhead run which some have estimated as high as 40,000 steelhead although others estimated it to be only 20,000 fish. Last year it was estimated that less than 4,000 steelhead returned to spawn in the Skagit. The death of one of the west coast's most storied steelhead rivers is taking place right before our eyes and there is no remedy in sight. Sad, so very sad.

By the way nice article.