Salmon Recovery
The Mandate
The Endangered Species Actrequires that NOAA Fisheries and the US Fish and Wildlife Service develop and implement recovery plans for conservation and survival of listed species. In Washington State, the agencies chose to work with the local and regional processes developing recovery plans for listed salmon.
Salmon Recovery
Some human activities acting in concert with natural occurrences (e.g. droughts, floods, landslides, fires, debris flows, and ocean cycles) have impacted the abundance, productivity, spatial structure, and diversity of Upper Columbia spring Chinook salmon, steelhead, and bull trout populations. The habitat factors that may have been affected include: water quality, streamflows, in-stream and streamside habitat, the number of adults that survive and return to spawn, and the genetic makeup of hatchery fish. How seriously human activities have affected the health of salmon populations is still being debated, but one thing is certain - salmon and steelhead recovery does not have to occur at the expense of human activities.
The salmons' continued existence and recovery requires reducing or eliminating threats to the long-term persistence of fish populations, maintaining widely distributed and connected fish populations across diverse habitats of their native ranges, and preserving genetic diversity and life-history characteristics.
A Path to Recovery Means Knowing the Facts
If local stakeholders don't design and implement actions to conserve endangered and threatened species, federal agencies and courts will. The Endangered Species Act (ESA) is a U.S. law designed to conserve species and their critical habitat from extinction. Administered by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), it provides a mandate for change.
"If you think you're a stakeholder, then you are!" (1999) the late Esther Stefaniw, former Chelan County Commissioner.
Salmon Recovery Efforts Must
- Focus on effects of human activities and actions in terms of the "four Hs" – habitat, harvest, hatcheries and hydropower;
- Incorporate social and economic considerations into goals, objectives and actions;
- Include active citizen participation at watershed and regional levels;
- Use sound ecological principles and scientific information; and
- Include long-term commitments to monitoring, adaptability and accountability for results.
Balanced Solutions to Salmon Recovery
In Washington State, the Governor's Salmon Recovery Office was created through the State Legislature to coordinate and produce a statewide salmon strategy; assist in the development of regional recovery plans; secure current and future funding for local, regional and state recovery efforts; and provide the Biennial State of the Salmon report to the Legislature.
The Upper Columbia Salmon Recovery Board is one of eight regional salmon recovery organizations in the state. Although salmon recovery may cause some to suspect that harsh restrictions and hardships will be imposed, the truth is that salmon recovery will provide benefits to the Upper Columbia region that span all interest groups. Healthy salmon populations will boost local economies, ensure recreational opportunities and reduce ESA-related regulatory pressures.
Balancing the needs of the economy, salmon and community - essential for successful salmon recovery - requires stakeholder input and participation. The stakeholders in the Upper Columbia region include its residents - from farmers and families to ranchers, hikers and business owners. The UCSRB intends to approach salmon recovery efforts in a transparent and evolving process to restore fish populations for ecosystems and people while enhancing the economic viability of the region.