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Methow Valley News March 9, 2000 Endangered Species Coverage Fish and water pact ready as lawmakers debate funding by Lee Hicks Okanogan County Commissioners were set to consider the latest draft of a fish and water agreement as the debate over Methow funding issues gained a higher profile in the legislature. The commissioners were reviewing Tuesday (March 7) a draft agreement worked out last week and approved at the planning unit’s March 1 meeting. A copy was also forwarded to the area’s legislative delegation led by state Rep. Linda Parlette, R-12th, who was waiting for the commissioners’ final action. Parlette was instrumental in getting state Department of Ecology director Tom Fitzsimmons and Jeff Tayer of the state Department of Fish and Wildlife to the Methow to help work out details of the agreement with the planning unit. Late last week, the state’s salmon funding leader, William Ruckelshaus stepped in to block an attempt to pay for some Methow fish recovery measures directly from the $40 million salmon fund. But, the action by Ruckelshaus, an influential Seattle businessman and former Environmental Protection Agency chief, might have been more a political and procedural matter than an attempt to block funding for the Valley. Ruckelshaus’ intervention prompted a faxed correspondence by county commissioners Tuesday explaining the county’s need to have commitments for funding with irrigation season nearing. The commissioners wrote the county "strongly supports direct funding through legislation" for the basin in order to demonstrate commitment to the effort and gain matching funds from other sources. Parlette said Monday that she understood Ruckelshaus’ position that funding needed to be reviewed by the board rather than appropriated from the salmon coffers by the legislature. "I understand what Mr. Ruckelshaus is saying. ‘You created the salmon board. Let’s make it work.’" But Parlette said legislators are concerned that last year Gov. Gary Locke vetoed funds that would have helped the Methow address irrigation and fish recovery. This year, Parlette said, there is bi-partisan House support for the Methow. "This year House members, Republicans and Democrats, both are nervous about the budget process again because we want to make sure we have some influence and that everything is all tied together." She said the key is "number one, to make sure proper legislation is passed; number two, that the funding is available to do what the (Methow basin) planning unit proposal is saying we will do; and number three, to make sure we can get the water turned on this spring." Parlette said Ruckelshaus’ position would not mean the Methow could not receive funding by the salmon board. But she also noted that budgets proposed by the House and Senate both have appropriations for Methow fish and water projects. A House proposed budget calls for $2 million "solely" for the Methow. The money is earmarked for specific projects: $500,000 for hydrological studies; $750,000 for fish screens and $750,000 to purchase water rights. The Senate bill only has $500,000 for the watershed process, Parlette said. Whether money comes from the dedicated salmon fund or state budget, Parlette said she is only concerned that, "nothing is going to interrupt the timeliness of getting funds to the Methow." The funding proposals are tied to a package of several bills directly affecting the Methow. Included are measures to ease the procedure for contributing trust water rights; develop hydrological data; and protect water rights reduced by endangered fish recovery measures from being relinquished under state law. An agreement on water and fish and funding of projects are becoming critical as irrigators look forward to the 2000 growing season. National Marine Fisheries Service is reviewing measures to enforce the Endangered Species Act this spring for ditches on private property, as well as Forest Service land. NMFS shut down several federally permitted ditches, regulated by Section 7 of the ESA, last year and has put so-called Section 9 ditches on notice that plans must be in place to avoid "take" of endangered steelhead trout and spring-run Chinook salmon, as well as threatened bull trout. In other activity related to endangered fish and water: —NMFS and other agencies of the "Federal Caucus" will soon conclude about a dozen meetings around the West to discuss the so-called "All-H" (formerly 4-H) issues related to endangered fish. About 700 people attended a Pasco meeting, most opposed to breaching dams. Some scientists say that’s the surest way to save salmon but the price would be high—politically and economically. —NMFS is also rolling out its proposed "4d" rules applying to fish listed as threatened under ESA. A Seattle paper reported 200 people attended a meeting there earlier this month and that most of those speaking wanted more federal than local influence in fish recovery. The Methow basin has bull trout, listed as threatened by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which may also list west slope cutthroat trout in the near future. —On the dam breaching issue, Gov. Gary Locke last week came out against the breaching of Snake River dams to improve fish runs. This immediately put him in conflict with Oregon Gov. Jim Kitzhaber and also riled environmental groups. Dam breaching, however, appears to have the support of big labor, traditionally a stronghold for Democrats such as the Northwest governors. Opinion | Sports |
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