Tri-County delivers salmon recovery plan to feds

Proposed plan offers local solutions to regional problem Snohomish, King, and Pierce County executives announced the transmittal of the proposed Tri-County salmon recovery plan. The plan will be delivered to National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) tomorrow. The Tri-County effort, a voluntary assembly of local governments, tribes, environmental coalitions and business coalitions have joined together for the common purpose of recovering salmon and responding to listings under the Endangered Species Act. The Tri-County plan is being presented in anticipation of its fitting within NMFS' 4(d) rule released today. "We are very encouraged that NMFS is looking to local governments, like Tri-County, for ways to recover the salmon," said King County Executive Ron Sims. "Our three counties and local cities are working closely with tribes, businesses, the environmental community, utilities and others to exercise local control over how the 4(d) rule will affect our region." This recovery plan will conserve the listed species while allowing government services and business activities to continue. Local plans, such as the Tri-County plan, allow salmon recovery decisions to be made by communities and can be tailored to local watershed conditions. The Tri-County will present the specifics to the NMFS and USFWS through the summer. NMFS is expected to release a final version of the Tri-County plan for public comment later this fall. "The Tri-County Effort is an unprecedented regional coalition," said Snohomish County Executive Bob Drewel. "I'm proud that the Pacific Northwest knows what's important and that we're willing to work together to save those things that make our region unique." The NMFS has issued a final 4(d) rule for West Coast chinook salmon listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The rule will prohibit activities that will harm salmon and their habitat - also known as "take." The final 4(d) rule also allows local governments to propose their own recovery plans in order to customize salmon recovery for their region. If the Tri-County plan is accepted by the NMFS, it will provide certainty to the region's governments and businesses that if they follow the plan, then their activities will be fish-friendly. "We've created a plan that is firmly grounded in science, but allows for choices to be made," said Pierce County Executive Doug Sutherland. "The plan allows for multiple ways to achieve our goal - especially in the important area of land use and development. Salmon science should be about creating opportunities for individuals to achieve our common goal, and not about limiting them to a 'one-size-fits-all' solution." The Tri-County plan focuses on the one area where local governments and organizations can have the greatest benefit - salmon habitat. In order to protect existing habitat and prevent further degradation over the next few years, the plan will change how government conducts its own operations and those vital activities it permits. Over the long-term, the plan would recover salmon by restoring critical habitat; concentration on watershed-based recovery efforts; and monitoring efforts to evaluate success. The proposed Tri-County salmon protection plan covers the following activities: Roads Maintenance and Repair. Frequently government road crews work in and around streams, lakes, and rivers to maintain our road network. These new best management practices would reduce sediment and erosion and restrict repair work, except in emergency situations, when salmon are spawning. Stormwater Management. The effects of development are often felt by our stormwater system and its ability to retain and treat run-off from roofs, pavement, lawns, and other impervious surfaces. New stormwater guidelines would require governments and developers to implement new methods of catching and treating stormwater. Land-use and Development Regulations. Construction and other development near salmon-bearing water bodies would face increased scrutiny under the Tri-County plan. Those projects near water would either have to follow prescriptive guidelines or conduct a scientific evaluation on the impact to fish before any permits could be issued. Habitat Acquisition and Restoration. Providing usable, high-quality habitat for returning salmon and other species is critical to achieving our goal. The Tri-County area has been developed as our region's population grew, so protecting the remaining critical habitat is vital. Watershed-based Recovery Plans. The Tri-County plan is built on the belief that local communities can identify what needs to be done to recover the salmon. Long-term salmon recovery plans would be created for individual watersheds by local governments, businesses, environmental groups, and other stakeholders. Adaptive Management. Saving the salmon will not occur overnight and existing conditions may change or new opportunities could arise. The plan establishes a system to monitor our salmon recovery actions, gather information, evaluate new methods or approaches, and implement necessary changes over time. The delivery of the Tri-County plan is not the final step in the process. The NMFS and USFWS will be reviewing the plan and discussing it with the Tri-County over the summer. It is possible that NMFS will make changes to the plan, but NMFS is expected to publish it for public comment before finalizing the plan. The USFWS has the responsibility for issuing protective rules for the bull trout. They will be reviewing the Tri-County plan to ensure that their rules for the bull trout are coordinated with NMFS' 4(d) rule for chinook. A detailed summary of the Tri-County plan is available on the Tri-County's Salmon Information Center's website at http://www.salmoninfo.org, or call the toll-free hotline, at 1-877-SALMON-9. Additional updates on the Tri-County's progress will be posted on the Center's website. The Salmon Information Center is the region's comprehensive, objective source of information to help you get involved in salmon recovery.

Related info A detailed summary of the Tri-County plan is available on the Tri-County's Salmon Information Center's website, or call the toll-free hotline, at 1-877-SALMON-9. Additional updates on the Tri-County's progress will be posted on the Center's website. The Salmon Information Center is the region's comprehensive, objective source of information to help you get involved in salmon recovery. Link to: » News release:  King County actions already helping to save salmon » Executive Sims' salmon conservation & recovery website » Tri-County Salmon Information Center website (external link) » A citizen's guide to the 4(d) rule for threatened salmon and steelhead on the west coast (external link) » Bull trout white paper » Environmental news

Updated: June 20, 2000