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Date: Fri, 06 Dec 1996 10:56:18 -0500
From: Gene Buck <[log in to unmask]>
Info Summary for U.S. Congress and Staff - Part 2.
Canadian Salmon Fleet Restructuring. On Nov. 6, 1996, an
interim federal-provincial report was released calling for
short-term aid to assist displaced BC salmon fishery workers hurt
by the federal government's 1996 commercial salmon fleet
reduction program. Although Fisheries Minister Fred Mifflin
suggested that as much as C$30 million or more could be made
available, officials with the Human Resources Dept. indicated
that funding between C$4 million and C$25 million was more
likely. On Nov. 25, 1996, Canadian government officials
confirmed that the assistance announced on Nov. 6, 1996, was
from existing unemployment insurance funds and not any new funds.
[Assoc Press]
Dworshak Gas Bubble Research. In early November 1996, ID Dept.
of Fish and Game biologists reported that September 1996 studies
of fish in the Clearwater River below Dworshak Dam indicated few
outward signs of gas bubble disease. Of nearly 6,000 fish
observed, only 0.6% (36 fish, of which 27 were kokanee) had any
signs of gas bubble disease. [Assoc Press]
Harza Northwest Report. In early November 1996, the Army Corps
of Engineers released details of a report completed by Harza
Northwest Inc. on how to operate Columbia River Basin dams. The
report concluded that removing 4 lower Snake River dams, while
being the costliest alternative in the short-run, may be the only
cost-effective way to prevent ID salmon from becoming extinct.
Barging juvenile salmon would become the most cost-effective
alternative if survival of barged juveniles could be increased
88%. Partial dam drawdown was concluded to be ineffective.
[Assoc Press, Medford, OR Mail Tribune via Greenwire]
WA Timberlands Habitat Conservation Plan. On Nov. 5, 1996, the
WA Board of Natural Resources signed an agreement for a habitat
conservation plan with NMFS and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service for management of 1.63 million acres of state timberlands
as a cohesive ecosystem of watersheds for at least 70 years. On
Nov. 26, 1996, a coalition of local governments {and a school
district} filed suit with the WA Supreme Court asking that the
state be blocked from entering into the habitat conservation
plan, contending that the Board of Natural Resources failed to
consider important information concerning the state's duty to
manage state timber resources appropriately for generating
revenues to finance public schools and other programs. [Assoc
Press, Portland Oregonian via Greenwire]
CA Water Bond Passes. On Nov. 5, 1996, 63% of CA voters voted
to approve a $995 million water bond, including $390 million to
fund habitat restoration in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, and
$193 million to improve the Bay-Delta estuary. [Assoc Press]
OR Grazing and Water Quality. On Nov. 5, 1996, Oregon voters
were asked to decide on initiative Measure 38, requiring
landowners to keep cattle and other livestock from waterways
damaged by overgrazing. Landowners who participate in
state-approved water-quality plans would be exempted from Measure
38 requirements. Gov. Kitzhaber's Healthy Streams Partnership
is seeking to develop water quality plans for more than 900
segments of OR steams and rivers that currently fail to meet
federal water quality standards. On Nov. 5, 1996, 64% of Oregon
voters voted to defeat Measure 38, which would have required
ranchers to build fences to keep cattle from streams damaged by
overgrazing. On Nov. 18, 1996, Gov. Kitzhaber, ranchers, and
environmental groups announced agreement on a plan to better
protect OR streams from livestock damage and pollution. The OR
state legislature could be asked to provide as much as $40
million to fund this plan. The plan would provide between $20
million and $35 million to assist farmers and ranchers better
protect water quality with fences and other measures. Another
goal of the plan is to complete the agricultural portions of
water quality plans for all the state's streams within 4 years.
[Assoc Press]
Oregon Salmon Plan. On Nov. 5, 1996, NMFS Regional Director
Will Stelle sent Gov. Kitzhaber a letter detailing major
shortcomings of the Governor's draft Coastal Salmon Restoration
Initiative, including insufficient habitat protection, poor state
agency coordination, and uncertain funding. [Assoc Press]
WA Coho Salmon Marking. On Nov. 1, 1996, Judge Rothstein issued
a stipulation that halted fin-clip marking of all Puget Sound
hatchery fish, but allowed marking to continue for hatchery fish
along the Columbia River. Fishery managers were directed to
settle differences before releasing juvenile salmon in spring
1997. [Assoc Press, NW Fishletter]
Aquaculture and Aquaria
Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center Opening. On Nov. 19, 1996,
the Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept. opened its $18 million Texas
Freshwater Fisheries Center east of Athens, TX. This Center is
an aquarium and education center committed to research on aquatic
life in Texas' freshwater streams, ponds, and lakes. The
facility includes a 24,000 sq. foot hatchery that will
concentrate on producing Florida largemouth bass and an Anglers
Hall of Fame. [Assoc Press]
Ocean Journey Aquarium. In mid-November 1996, proponents of the
non-profit Ocean Journey Aquarium in Denver, CO's Central Platte
Valley announced that the $93 million funding for the project had
been assembled, with bonds scheduled to be sold on Dec. 18,
1996. Construction will start early in 1997, with opening
scheduled for spring 1999. [Assoc Press]
{Atlantic Salmon Egg Import Concerns. On Nov. 13, 1996, the
Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund wrote to Canadian federal and
provincial government officials on behalf of 8 environmental,
tribal, and sport fishing groups expressing growing concern that
continued importation of Atlantic salmon eggs for British
Columbia aquaculture operations posed a serious threat to wild
salmon stocks. These groups were primarily concerned about the
potential threats from imported disease and parasite epidemics,
and asked that such egg imports be permanently banned.} [personal
communication]
....
End of Part 2
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