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Methow Valley News March 16, 2000 Endangered Species Coverage Some good fish-funding news Basin agreement still in flux by Lee Hicks The long-term future of Methow Valley irrigation this spring is about as clear as the usually muddy waters of high runoff. As the traditional opening dates for basin headgates approach, many questions remain—from an agreement that could provide endangered species protection for irrigators on private property to sources of funding for fish-friendly projects. The Forest Service appears poised to issue "Section 7d" letters under the Endangered Species Act in the next week. The determinations would allow ditches operating on federal land to begin operation this spring, heading off a repeat of actions that blocked irrigation last year. The Methow basin watershed planning unit is set to review Wednesday night (March 15) another proposed agreement with state and federal agencies on water and endangered fish issues. In Olympia, the legislature is considering four separate budget bills including a House Republican version that would provide $2 million for hydrology studies, fish screens and purchase of water rights in the basin. And the state Salmon Recovery Funding Board ("surf board") will meet Thursday and Friday in Wenatchee to consider applications for funding that include Methow projects. The latest basin watershed agreement was worked out by the planning unit and state officials to show evidence of local commitment to salmon recovery in an effort to secure funding through the legislature. As of Monday a watershed unit subcommittee was planning to review comments by National Marine Fisheries Service officials, then present it to the full unit on Wednesday. Subcommittee member Dick Ewing said Monday that NMFS remains focused on achieving "target flows" for streams in each of the next three years of the pact. He said the subcommittee hopes to gain approval from the planning unit not to "ratify" the document, but to "work...on how to round things out with National Marine Fisheries." The issue of how much water is needed for fish and when will be part of the dialogue, Ewing said. The proposed basin agreement indirectly affects federal ditches, which are also subject to separate Section 7 provisions of the ESA requiring consultation between Forest Service, NMFS and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Operation of the federal ditches has been held up by continued discussions of "biological opinions," of how their operation affects endangered steelhead trout and spring Chinook salmon, and bull trout. Forest Service official Gregg Knott said Monday his office has final biological opinions for ditches from USFWS, but not from NMFS. "We don’t’ want to take risk of having (ditch) operators not turn on this spring." Knott said the Forest Service plans to issue a 7d letter to federal ditches that would permit early operation. "But they will be much more limited by flows (restrictions) than last year." With the prospect of lower runoff this year, Knott said, "we’re now looking forward to the latter part of the summer." Knott said he hoped the agreement on a "basin HCP (habitat conservation plan) or sub-basin HCP...will get everybody out from under the target flow requirements." At present, NMFS officials are working with Forest Service hydrology experts on assessing flows in the Twisp River basin. Last year NMFS determined that flows were not a "limiting factor" in that basin, but are, "looking this year to re-check their determination," Knott explained. "The biggest data gap we have focuses on water quantity," Knott said. In addressing fish recovery, the issue remains, "how much water do they (fish) need and when do they need it. The relationship is not clearly established. We need to get there (to the answer) as soon as possible." On the funding front, the Okanogan County Water Resources Department learned from Sen. Slade Gorton’s office last week that the county could receive the largest grant ever, $1.48 million, from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, a non-profit group established by Congress. The grant is subject to availability of about $2.3 million in matching funds from state or other non-federal sources. A large chunk of the match could come from a land acquisition program of the Interagency Committee and state Fish and Wildlife through the Methow Conservancy, which administers the program. The funds would go for fish screens, wells, new headgates and other capital projects. County water resources director Dennis Beich said the county also hopes the salmon funding board will provide additional funding by approving grant applications to be considered at its Wenatchee session. "It gets really complicated," Beich said of the funding process. "Money for the IAC-Fish and Wildlife program has already been appropriated. From now on those types of funds will go through the "surf" (salmon recovery funding) board." Salmon funding chief William Ruckelshaus, a former head of the federal Environmental Protection Agency, stepped in recently to block direct legislative funding of Methow projects. Ruckelshaus argued that the board’s charter was to review projects before funding. Rep. Linda Parlette, R-12th, said Tuesday that she is hopeful that several bills passed earlier by the House in regular session would make it through the special session to the Governor's desk. A key bill is SB6525 which would establish "two lines" for water applications, one for transfers and changes and another for new water rights. It also now includes provisions related to streamlining trust water rights that have been supported by Parlette and other regional legislators in a House bill. Parlette said recently she has noticed bi-partisan support for efforts to provide relief for the Methow basin. A prominent House Democrat approached her during one discussion, she recalled, and noted, "This is one liberal Seattle Democrat who is on your side." Opinion | Sports |
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