The State Agencies' Action Plan, released in May 2000, defines the state's priority activities for short-term implementation of the Salmon Strategy this 1999-2001 biennium. The Action Plan does not include all ongoing state agency salmon-related activities. Its focus is new actions or modifications to existing activities this biennium that provide additional protection for salmon.

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The State Agencies' Action Plan

Contents - State Agencies' Action Plan - Summary
1999-2001 Biennium
May 2000

 

INTRODUCTION

There first was a Statewide Strategy to Recover Salmon

In September 1999, the Joint Natural Resources Cabinet released a summary of the Statewide Strategy to Recover Salmon, "Extinction is Not An Option". A separate volume with more detailed information was released in November 1999. The Strategy is intended to be a long-term guide for what we must achieve if we are to recover salmon. It articulates the mission, goals, and objectives for salmon recovery.

An Action Plan follows the Salmon Strategy

The 1999-2001 Action Plan identifies specific additional salmon recovery activities that state agencies are undertaking this biennium. It should be noted that the Action Plan does not intend to include all state agency salmon-related activities. Its focus is new actions or modifications to existing activities that provide additional protection for salmon. For example, it does not include the Department of Fish and Wildlife�s base activities related to fish harvest and hatchery management. Rather, it includes changes to those activities which will provide additional salmon protection.

The Action Plan represents early actions in what will be a long-term implementation plan. State agencies� actions this biennium are collectively targeted to build local and state capacity for salmon recovery efforts, as well as for on-the-ground initiatives.

Many of the actions will directly benefit regional and local recovery efforts. They also provide the foundation to achieve ESA compliance and certainty by state agencies, local governments, and private property owners. The state approach to achieving ESA compliance is to minimize liability by establishing a framework of conditions under which economic activities may continue without being considered unlawful "taking", while at the same time providing a sound base for recovery. The 1999-2001 Action Plan identifies, where appropriate, the ESA compliance strategy that is either underway or being considered for the actions.

A Salmon Recovery Scorecard will measure progress

A major goal of the Strategy and the initial Action Plan is to achieve measurable improvements and progress toward recovery. In May 2000, the Joint Natural Resources Cabinet produced the Salmon Recovery Scorecard, a product that translates the salmon recovery goals and objectives into high level outcomes, and establishes performance measures to monitor and evaluate the implementation of the Action Plan and gauge progress on salmon recovery.

In summary, the Salmon Recovery Strategy was designed as a long-term guide of what we must achieve to recover salmon. The Action Plan outlines the state�s priority actions for short-term implementation of the Strategy. The Scorecard is our performance management system for tracking implementation, measuring progress, and changing course where needed.

Action Plan Funding

In the 1999-2001 Biennium, a total of $247.1 million from state, federal, and local sources has been provided to implement state salmon recovery activities included in the Action Plan. State funds represent 74 percent ($183 million) of the total funds, with federal funds amounting to almost 25 percent ($60.8 million) and local funds amounting to one percent. The total amounts to two-tenths of one percent of the whole state general fund budget, and six-tenths of one percent of all expenditures for the entire state budget.

In terms of total dollars contained in the Action Plan, almost 53.3 percent ($131 million) is provided as pass-through grants to local and regional efforts and 8.3 percent ($20.5 million) is allocated to provide technical assistance to local and regional salmon recovery entities. The remaining 38.4 percent ($94.9 million) is provided for state agency responsibilities.

HABITAT

Agriculture Strategy To Improve Fish Habitat

Goal

Improve farm and sector-based practices to provide the water quality, water quantity and functional riparian habitat needed for salmon recovery in the agricultural sector.

Outcomes

Implementation of the agricultural actions will contribute to the following salmon recovery outcomes:

Actions

Forests And Fish

Goals

Outcomes

Implementation of the Forests and Fish actions will contribute to the following salmon recovery outcomes:

Actions

Linking Land Use Decisions and Salmon Recovery

Goal

Protect and restore salmon habitat by avoiding and/or mitigating site specific and cumulative negative impacts of continuing growth and development.

Outcomes

Implementation of the land use actions will contribute to the following salmon recovery outcomes:

Actions

Managing Urban Stormwater to Protect Streams

Goals

Outcomes

Implementation of the actions for Managing Urban Stormwater to Protect Streams will contribute to the following salmon recovery outcomes:

Actions

Ensuring Adequate Water in Streams for Fish

Goal

Retain or provide adequate amounts of water to protect and restore fish habitat.

Outcomes

Implementation of the actions to Provide Adequate Water in Streams for Fish will contribute to the following salmon recovery outcomes:

Actions

Clean Water for Fish

Goal

Restore and protect water quality to meet needs of salmon.

Outcomes

Implementation of the Clean Water actions will contribute to the following salmon recovery outcomes:

Actions

Fish Passage Barriers - Providing Access To Habitat

Goal

Ensure habitat is accessible to wild salmon.

Outcomes

Implementation of the Fish Passage Barriers actions will contribute to the following salmon recovery outcomes:

Actions

HARVEST

Harvest Management To Meet The Needs Of Wild Fish

Goal

Protect, restore, and enhance the productivity and diversity of wild salmonids and their ecosystems to sustain ceremonial subsistence, commercial, and recreational fisheries; non-consumptive fish benefits; and other related cultural and ecological values.

Outcomes

Implementation of the Harvest Management actions will contribute to the following salmon recovery outcomes:

Actions

HYDROPOWER

Hydropower And Fish: Pursuing Opportunities

Goal

Achieve no net impact for each salmonid species affected by hydropower activities.

Outcomes

Implementation of the hydropower actions will contribute to the following salmon recovery outcomes:

Actions

TOOLBOX FOR RECOVERY

Educating The Public About The Needs Of Salmon

Goal

Inform, build support, involve, and mobilize citizens to assist in restoration, conservation, and enhancement of salmon habitat. And educate the public about the state�s salmon recovery objectives.

Outcomes

Implementation of the education tools will contribute to the following salmon recovery outcomes:

Actions

Enforcement Of Existing Laws Related To Salmon

Goal

Improve compliance with environmental and resource laws that support salmon protection and restoration.

Outcome

Implementation of the enforcement actions outlined in this toolbox will contribute to the following salmon recovery outcome:

Actions

Permit Streamlining

Goal

Ensure projects are designed fish friendly, reviewed consistently, and permit decisions are made efficiently.

Outcomes

Implementation of actions to improve and streamline the permitting process will contribute to the following salmon recovery outcomes:

Actions

ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT AND MONITORING

Key Improvements in Science-Based Decision Making by State Agencies

Goals

Outcomes

Implementation of key tools to improve science-based decision-making will support the following salmon recovery outcomes:

Actions

Science Monitoring Data and mapping Research and technology transfer Status Report

REGIONAL RESPONSE

Key Regional Response Activities by State Agencies

Goal

Implement a coordinated and balanced recovery response that moves us aggressively toward the salmon recovery goal while maintaining a healthy economy.

Outcomes

Implementation of key regional response activities by state agencies will contribute to the following salmon recovery outcomes:

Actions

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