NEWS Endangered Species SPECIAL ESA & Water Coverage OPINION RECENT ISSUESLETTERSCLASSIFIEDSLINKS
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Methow Valley News March 23, 2000 Endangered Species Coverage Publisher's Comment ~ by Lee Hicks Staying the Course There are legitimate reasons for consternation among members of the basin watershed unit—and anyone in the Methow Valley—as the result of decisions of the state’s Salmon Recovery Funding Board last Friday. The watershed group is exercising commendable restraint and good judgment in moving ahead with a March 28 meeting with National Marine Fisheries Service to discuss local proposals for addressing fish and water issues. In its Friday decisions, the salmon board—often referred to as the "surf board"—appeared to ignore considerable local efforts to establish priorities for county fish recovery projects. The actions may provide local government and citizens from around the state with an example of why the board may need some oversight by either the legislature and/or the governor and his executive agencies. Agency heads for Fish and Wildlife, Ecology and other resource agencies serve in an advisory capacity. Board chairman William Ruckelshaus appears committed to the importance of local government and citizen participation in the success of salmon recovery. Ruckelshaus said as much in a Friday interview with the Wenatchee World before the decisions were made. Ruckelshaus, the EPA head in both the Nixon and Reagan administrations and an international businessman, generally has bi-partisan respect in this state and the "other" Washington. He has previously advocated, and reiterated last week, that some coordinated plan and entity is needed to bring together local government, citizens, state and federal agencies. Maybe someone of Ruckelshaus’ stature can hold the attention of the governor and other officials to argue that salmon recovery needs to be free of politics—including environmental politics—and to follow a coherent plan. If so, a process that has thus far been frighteningly fragmented might be brought together into something productive with broad support. Local Interest | Letters
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