Gov. Gregoire�s statement on funding for salmon, Puget Sound recovery

For Immediate Release: June 30, 2009

OLYMPIA � Gov. Chris Gregoire released the following statement today on Recovery Act funding awarded to projects in Washington from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration:

�The stimulus funds announced today by NOAA are a great win for Washington�s salmon recovery and Puget Sound restoration efforts. In early April, I endorsed and submitted requests for federal stimulus funds for habitat restoration grants across Washington state. Today we learned that Washington will receive $16.5 million, or nearly 10 percent of the funding awarded in this national competition.

�This decision highlights Washington�s leadership in the nation in responding to Endangered Species Act issues, and working successfully with communities to engage citizens in the challenging work of restoring Puget Sound. I am proud of the work done by the Puget Sound Partnership to restore fish and Puget Sound.�

NOAA funds will go to six projects from the Puget Sound Partnership�s Action Agenda to clean up Puget Sound and develop a salmon recovery plan. The projects are:

Elwha River floodplain restoration (Port Angeles) � $2 million � In conjunction with the Elwha Dam removal, this project restores 82 acres of the floodplain of the lower Elwha River through the removal of dikes and culverts, re-vegetation and invasive species control.

Removal of derelict fishing gear in Puget Sound (Seattle) � $4.5 million � Removes more than 200 metric tons of marine debris, including 3,000 nets, and restores 600 acres of habitat.

Smuggler�s Slough Nooksack River restoration (Bellingham) � $1.7 million � Raises a roadway and reconnects tidal exchange for 493 acres of Smuggler�s Slough channel that will flow to restored salt marsh and eelgrass habitat in Lummi Bay. Seven miles of slough habitat will also be opened.

Qwuloolt Estuary restoration (Marysville) � $2 million � Restores 350 acres of wetland and 16 stream miles to fish passage for several species of salmon on the lower Snohomish River and its surrounding tidal floodplain by removing levees, excavating channels and planting native vegetation and trees.

Fisher Slough marsh restoration (Burlington) � $5.2 million � Restores 60 acres of the Skagit River floodplain by replacing antiquated agriculture floodgates and restoring 15 miles of high-quality habitat for chum, coho, threatened Chinook salmon and other species.

Hansen Creek floodplain restoration (Milltown) � $988,000 � Excavates and reconnects 140 acres of forested floodplain habitat and installs woody debris for chum, coho, threatened Chinook salmon and other species.