Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - July 25, 2000
Contact: Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136
BOISE -- Idaho Governor Dirk Kempthorne, Montana Governor Marc Racicot, Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber and Washington Governor Gary Locke today announced a historic agreement to begin to move the region toward recovery of salmon and steelhead in the Columbia River Basin.
"We believe that agreement on a regional approach, consisting of specific federal, state and regional plans that protect both our salmon and our communities, should be reached and accepted by federal and state officials in consultation with tribal leaders no later than January, 2001," the governors wrote in a cover letter to the strategy document. "Reaching such agreement, as well as implementing the other recommendations in this document, will enable all of us, together, to begin to fulfill our respective roles and responsibilities and meet the challenge that lies ahead."
The governors' announcement coincides with the federal government's release this week of its paper on recovery of salmon and steelhead in the Columbia River Basin listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and a draft biological opinion on recovery of ESA-listed Snake River salmon. The governors said their recommendations constitute "useful advice and guidance" to federal and state decision-makers, not an alternative plan.
Among the governors' specific recommendations:
Fish recovery goal: "The goal we suggest is protection and restoration of salmonids and other aquatic species to sustainable and harvestable levels meeting the requirements of the Endangered Species Act, the Clean Water Act, the Northwest Power Act and tribal rights under treaties and executive orders while taking into account the need to preserve a sound economy in the Pacific Northwest," the governors wrote.
Intergovernmental coordination: Frustrated by the lack of effective cooperation between state and federal fish and wildlife agencies on fish recovery, the governors recommend that the President designate one official in the region to oversee federal agency fish recovery efforts in the Columbia Basin and serve as the regular point of contact with state, local and tribal governments.
Habitat improvements: The governors endorse the concept of creating salmon sanctuaries to protect key fish habitats in accordance with state laws and acquiring water and habitat for fish from willing sellers.
Columbia River estuary: The governors believe that the federal government must immediately engage the states, tribes and local governments in implementing the National Estuary Program plan for the lower Columbia River estuary, including creation of salmon sanctuaries.
Predation by birds and mammals: The governors recommend that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, National Marine Fisheries Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service develop a long-term management plan to address predation by fish-eating birds and marine mammals. The attempt to relocate Caspian Terns within the Columbia River estuary was a good start, but not sufficient by itself, the governors said. The governors also support actions to improve the coordination among federal laws that protect fish-eating birds and marine mammals while also protecting the fish those birds and mammals eat.
Local involvement: The governors strongly endorse the concept of local planning for recovery of aquatic species. "This concept has the advantage of bringing together local and tribal governments with local citizens to develop and implement local recovery plans," the governors wrote.
Dam removal and modification: Recognizing that the federal government will not at this time recommend breaching the four federal dams on the lower Snake River, the governors said fish recovery efforts "must focus not only on currently accessible habitat, but also look for opportunities to increase the current level of habitat access with all dams remaining in place." The governors also recognize the importance of improving fish passage survival at dams, and in their recommendations commit each state to provide an annual list of priority fish passage projects to the Northwest Power Planning Council for proposed funding: "The list could include such things as screening diversions and replacing culverts, as well as removal of, or passage at, tributary dams, as is being done at Condit, Wapatox and Marmot dams," they wrote. The governors also support further fish passage improvements at the mainstem Snake and Columbia dams: "We support further modifications to the configuration and operation of the hydrosystem where appropriate and necessary to benefit fish and so long as the modifications do not jeopardize the region's reliable electricity supply."
Fish harvest: The governors support continuing current levels of tribal ceremonial and subsistence harvest. For commercial and non-treaty sport fisheries, the governors recommend that harvest rates, gear and timing in the mainstem fisheries be consistent with ensuring survival of the species and providing for their eventual recovery when combined with recovery actions in other sectors, such as habitat improvements, hatchery reforms and passage improvements at dams.
Hatchery reforms: The governors support redirecting artificial production of fish in the Columbia Basin to continue producing fish for harvest while also using hatcheries to rebuild naturally spawning populations of salmon and steelhead. Specifically, the governors said they support the recommendations in the Northwest Power Planning Council's 1999 Artificial Production Review report to Congress.
Funding: The governors recognize that fish and wildlife recovery is expensive and that it is likely to become more expensive in the future. BPA ratepayers will have to pay more to address the impact of hydropower dams on fish and wildlife, the governors said, and "we endorse BPA's stated commitment to increase the amount of . . . dollars to support salmon recovery." In addition, the governors called upon Congress to similarly increase federal appropriations, in recognition of the fact that fish and wildlife of the Columbia Basin are national resources. The governors also said the region needs a strong program to ensure a far better accounting of spending on fish and wildlife recovery and called for an annual accountability report to document progress in this regard.
The governors presented their recommendations to the regional directors of the National Marine Fisheries Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Reclamation and Bureau of Land Management, as well as to the administrator of the Bonneville Power Administration and the Chairman of the Northwest Power Planning Council.
Copies of the recommendations are available at the following web addresses:
Washington: www.governor.wa.gov/esa/index.htm
Idaho: www.state.id.us
Oregon: www.governor.state.or.us
Northwest Power Planning Council: www.nwppc.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - July 25, 2000
Contact: Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136
Governors agree on key elements of regional strategy to fish recovery. Consistent federal and regional plans should be developed, in consultation with Indian tribes, by January 2001, the governors say
BOISE -- Idaho Governor Dirk Kempthorne, Montana Governor Marc Racicot, Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber and Washington Governor Gary Locke today announced a historic agreement to begin to move the region toward recovery of salmon and steelhead in the Columbia River Basin.
"We believe that agreement on a regional approach, consisting of specific federal, state and regional plans that protect both our salmon and our communities, should be reached and accepted by federal and state officials in consultation with tribal leaders no later than January, 2001," the governors wrote in a cover letter to the strategy document. "Reaching such agreement, as well as implementing the other recommendations in this document, will enable all of us, together, to begin to fulfill our respective roles and responsibilities and meet the challenge that lies ahead."
The governors' announcement coincides with the federal government's release this week of its paper on recovery of salmon and steelhead in the Columbia River Basin listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and a draft biological opinion on recovery of ESA-listed Snake River salmon. The governors said their recommendations constitute "useful advice and guidance" to federal and state decision-makers, not an alternative plan.
Among the governors' specific recommendations:
Fish recovery goal: "The goal we suggest is protection and restoration of salmonids and other aquatic species to sustainable and harvestable levels meeting the requirements of the Endangered Species Act, the Clean Water Act, the Northwest Power Act and tribal rights under treaties and executive orders while taking into account the need to preserve a sound economy in the Pacific Northwest," the governors wrote.
Intergovernmental coordination: Frustrated by the lack of effective cooperation between state and federal fish and wildlife agencies on fish recovery, the governors recommend that the President designate one official in the region to oversee federal agency fish recovery efforts in the Columbia Basin and serve as the regular point of contact with state, local and tribal governments.
Habitat improvements: The governors endorse the concept of creating salmon sanctuaries to protect key fish habitats in accordance with state laws and acquiring water and habitat for fish from willing sellers.
Columbia River estuary: The governors believe that the federal government must immediately engage the states, tribes and local governments in implementing the National Estuary Program plan for the lower Columbia River estuary, including creation of salmon sanctuaries.
Predation by birds and mammals: The governors recommend that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, National Marine Fisheries Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service develop a long-term management plan to address predation by fish-eating birds and marine mammals. The attempt to relocate Caspian Terns within the Columbia River estuary was a good start, but not sufficient by itself, the governors said. The governors also support actions to improve the coordination among federal laws that protect fish-eating birds and marine mammals while also protecting the fish those birds and mammals eat.
Local involvement: The governors strongly endorse the concept of local planning for recovery of aquatic species. "This concept has the advantage of bringing together local and tribal governments with local citizens to develop and implement local recovery plans," the governors wrote.
Dam removal and modification: Recognizing that the federal government will not at this time recommend breaching the four federal dams on the lower Snake River, the governors said fish recovery efforts "must focus not only on currently accessible habitat, but also look for opportunities to increase the current level of habitat access with all dams remaining in place." The governors also recognize the importance of improving fish passage survival at dams, and in their recommendations commit each state to provide an annual list of priority fish passage projects to the Northwest Power Planning Council for proposed funding: "The list could include such things as screening diversions and replacing culverts, as well as removal of, or passage at, tributary dams, as is being done at Condit, Wapatox and Marmot dams," they wrote. The governors also support further fish passage improvements at the mainstem Snake and Columbia dams: "We support further modifications to the configuration and operation of the hydrosystem where appropriate and necessary to benefit fish and so long as the modifications do not jeopardize the region's reliable electricity supply."
Fish harvest: The governors support continuing current levels of tribal ceremonial and subsistence harvest. For commercial and non-treaty sport fisheries, the governors recommend that harvest rates, gear and timing in the mainstem fisheries be consistent with ensuring survival of the species and providing for their eventual recovery when combined with recovery actions in other sectors, such as habitat improvements, hatchery reforms and passage improvements at dams.
Hatchery reforms: The governors support redirecting artificial production of fish in the Columbia Basin to continue producing fish for harvest while also using hatcheries to rebuild naturally spawning populations of salmon and steelhead. Specifically, the governors said they support the recommendations in the Northwest Power Planning Council's 1999 Artificial Production Review report to Congress.
Funding: The governors recognize that fish and wildlife recovery is expensive and that it is likely to become more expensive in the future. BPA ratepayers will have to pay more to address the impact of hydropower dams on fish and wildlife, the governors said, and "we endorse BPA's stated commitment to increase the amount of . . . dollars to support salmon recovery." In addition, the governors called upon Congress to similarly increase federal appropriations, in recognition of the fact that fish and wildlife of the Columbia Basin are national resources. The governors also said the region needs a strong program to ensure a far better accounting of spending on fish and wildlife recovery and called for an annual accountability report to document progress in this regard.
The governors presented their recommendations to the regional directors of the National Marine Fisheries Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Reclamation and Bureau of Land Management, as well as to the administrator of the Bonneville Power Administration and the Chairman of the Northwest Power Planning Council.
Copies of the recommendations are available at the following web addresses:
Washington: www.governor.wa.gov/esa/index.htm
Idaho: www.state.id.us
Oregon: www.governor.state.or.us
Northwest Power Planning Council: www.nwppc.org
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