Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - January 28, 1998
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Gov. Locke outlines strategy to restore state's salmon runs

OLYMPIA - Gov. Gary Locke today unveiled a draft State Salmon Strategy that will serve as a road map for restoring the health of Washington's increasingly troubled salmon runs.

"We are on the brink of the unimaginable. Many of our once abundant salmon runs are now so small the federal government is taking steps to protect them from extinction," said Locke. "This strategy will guide us during coming months as we make decisions that will literally mean the survival of salmon runs, our quality of life and economic vitality as we know it."

The federal government could step in to regulate Washington land and water use if it is not satisfied with state and local plans for restoring fish runs listed under the Endangered Species Act.

"The decisions we face will not be easy, but there is growing agreement across our state that we need to change the things we currently do that hurt fish," Locke said.

The draft State Salmon Strategy was written by the Joint Natural Resources Cabinet to identify highest-priority problems and provide a framework for making decisions about salmon habitat, water use, water pollution, barriers that block fish migration in rivers and streams, fish harvest and hatcheries.

Locke stressed that new partnerships are needed at all levels of government and with community volunteers to identify and implement actions that all citizens must take so salmon thrive in Washington once again.

The National Marine Fisheries Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have listed or are proposing to list several types of Washington salmon, steelhead and trout for protection under the Endangered Species Act. Lower Columbia steelhead are expected to be formally listed as threatened within the next two weeks. Puget Sound chinook, Lower Columbia chum, Hood Canal summer chum, Lake Ozette sockeye and Mid-Columbia steelhead are expected to be proposed for listing in late February.

The Puget Sound chinook listing will affect 14 counties including King, Pierce and Snohomish counties, the most densely populated counties in the state. It will be the first time a major metropolitan area will be proposed for Endangered Species Act protection.

The final State Salmon Strategy will be completed this fall. The draft strategy is available on the state's fish Web site: www.governor.wa.gov/esa/index.htm.

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