News Releases
Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - March 19, 1998
Contact:  Linda Crerar, 360-902-1818 in Olympia
Alt Contact:  Steve Leider, 360-906-6712 in Vancouver

State releases plan to restore lower Columbia steelhead

OLYMPIA - The state of Washington today released for public comment its draft plan to restore lower Columbia River wild steelhead, Gov. Gary Locke announced.

The draft plan, called the Lower Columbia Steelhead Conservation Initiative, was released on the same day Gov. Locke signed House Bill 2836 which creates a pilot program to help five southwestern counties implement wild steelhead recovery. The National Marine Fisheries Service listed the steelhead on March 13 as a threatened species under the federal Endangered Species Act.

The final lower Columbia plan will be submitted to NMFS this summer. A schedule of public meetings and the final date for public comment will be issued soon. The recovery plan will become part of the governor's State Salmon Strategy, which is designed to restore wild salmon and steelhead runs across Washington to healthy, harvestable levels.

"We expect to shape a plan for the lower Columbia steelhead that will become the model for other recovery plans across the state," Gov. Locke said. "It will take partnerships at all levels of government, with the tribes, communities, landowners, business people, environmentalists and fishers if we are to successfully restore the health of our waterways for people and for fish.

"If this and other steelhead and salmon recovery plans don't convince the federal government Washington can restore its runs, fish management decisions will shift to the federal government and federal courts," the governor warned.

The legislation signed today by the governor will establish a lower Columbia steelhead recovery management board of local community and government leaders. If successful there, this type of locally-driven salmon and steelhead recovery effort can be used as a model elsewhere in the state.

"I applaud the leaders of the five counties for stepping up to their responsibilities in this important effort," Gov. Locke said.

Clark County Commission Chair Betty Sue Morris thanked Gov. Locke for his continued support in responding to the steelhead listing. "Cooperative efforts across political philosophies and government boundaries are essential to protecting our wild steelhead."

Cowlitz County Commissioner Joe Rupley said, "We have been working very hard to ensure local people have an opportunity to share their knowledge and efforts in the recovery of steelhead. Local involvement will help to assure the recovery of the steelhead while keeping control of our own destiny."

In Lewis County, Commissioner Glenn Aldrich said, "This listing will touch thousands of families in our region that rely on our natural resources to survive. In anticipation of the listing, we have been actively working as a county to provide for significant local participation in the recovery process."

Locke said the state's plans for the lower Columbia steelhead, Puget Sound chinook and other proposed and listed steelhead and salmon species must meet federal requirements to be accepted by the federal government.

NMFS officials have said acceptable state recovery plans must contain substance, long-term monitoring and most importantly, definite plans to put them in place.

Highlights of the state's draft Lower Columbia Steelhead Conservation Initiative:

* Folds into the State Salmon Strategy framework the governor received from the Joint Cabinet on Natural Resources in January.

* Aims for comprehensive, coordinated and timely protection for steelhead and other species with the goal of restoring stocks to healthy, harvestable levels.

* Uses the state-tribal Wild Salmonid Policy for hatchery and harvest direction plus habitat guidance.

* Addresses specific factors for decline such as loss of habitat, fish management practices and hydropower issues.

The Governor's Salmon Team and the Joint Cabinet on Natural Resources will coordinate restoration of wild steelhead and salmon statewide. Both are headed by Curt Smitch, Locke's special advisor on natural resources.

The state Legislature last week authorized $36 million for wild salmon and steelhead restoration. In addition to funding the Salmon Team, the funds also will be used to:

* Promote watershed planning for fish and water.

* Remove poorly designed culverts and other barriers to fish migration.

* $842,000 was earmarked for barrier removal in lower Columbia counties.

* Assist regional volunteer groups to plant trees and take other actions to restore fish habitat.

* Mark hatchery chinook so fishers can distinguish them from wild salmon.

* Purchase commercial salmon licenses to reduce harvests.

* Install remote site incubators to improve salmon and steelhead egg survival.

Wahkiakum County Commissioner Dan Smalley said, "The local county officials, the state, conservation districts and citizens have worked very hard over the past few months to prepare the draft plan. We know that our hard work must continue if we are to recover our steelhead."

"Skamania County is extremely pleased with the support and cooperation we have received from the governor, the Legislature and our neighboring counties," said county Planning Director Harpreet Sandhu. "We, along with the other lower Columbia counties look forward to continuing cooperation on this important partnership."

Copies of the Lower Columbia Steelhead Conservation Initiative are available for review at public libraries and at state Ecology, Fish and Wildlife and Conservation District offices in the five county area. The executive summary and full draft plan will be posted next week on the state's ESA Web site. The address is: www.wa.gov/esa

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