Gov. Christine Gregoire: State on target to have all six salmon recovery plans by the end of '05

For Immediate Release: October 27, 2005

OLYMPIA � Oct. 27, 2005 - Gov. Christine Gregoire has announced that Washington State is on target to have all six of its regional salmon recovery plans submitted to the federal government by the end of this year. She made her remarks during ceremonies for two hand-offs to the federal government in Yakima and Walla Walla yesterday.

�Salmon are an icon for the Pacific Northwest. They have been an icon for the native people who have lived there for thousands of years,� said Gov. Gregoire while congratulating teams in the Yakima and Walla Walla regions on their years of hard work on the plans.

The decline of wild salmon began over a century ago. The first listings of salmon in Washington under the federal Endangered Species Act were made in 1991, and within eight years more than 75 percent of the state had salmon populations listed.

Volunteer members on the Snake River Salmon Recovery Board and on the Yakima Subbasin Fish and Wildlife Planning Board, all people who live and work on the front lines of these efforts, worked for long-range solutions. Those plans in each region were handed over to the National Marine Fisheries and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services.

�Because of the efforts of these boards and the others around the state, we are on track for having all six of our salmon recovery regional organizations submitting draft recovery plans to the federal government,� the governor said.

�This is a remarkable accomplishment. We have plans that identify community- supported goals, scientifically sound targets, and actions to recover these fish. And we have done it the old-fashioned way, with citizens joining representatives from agriculture, business, tribal sovereigns and local government to find solutions to common problems,� she added.

The governor said that while the plans have been submitted, the real work has just begun. She encouraged implementation of the plans with the local boards continuing to work with the Governor�s Salmon Recovery Office, the Salmon Recovery Funding Board, federal agencies and other state agencies.

Bob Lohn, Northwest regional manager of the NMFS, said, "The outstanding work of these boards exemplifies local commitment andguidance from local leaders on recovery planning," Lohn said. "The members did an excellent job on this, and it will create a solid foundation for salmon recovery.�

Representatives of the boards said they are deeply committed to the plans.

"The Board recognizes that other recovery plans have been developed for the region, but this is the first that has involved local citizens, agencies, and tribes. The region has ownership of this plan, and we have a vested interest in making it happen," said Steve Martin, Executive Director of the Snake River Salmon Recovery Board.

Added Paul Ward, Vice Chair of the Yakima Subbasin Fish and Wildlife Planning Board, "From the outset, our Board's efforts have focused on preparing a recovery plan that works for the culture and economy of the people and meets the needs of steelhead and bull trout in the Yakima Basin. This plan belongs to the agencies, local governments, tribal government, scientists, organizations, fishermen, landowners and citizens who joined with us to meld science and community values into a blueprint for recovery."


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