- The process of restoring coho salmon habitat may get a bit easier for local landowners willing to undertake voluntary projects along Siskiyou County streams and rivers.
- By John Bowman Yreka, CA
In 2010 the California Department of Fish and Game declared that two of the three brood years of Shasta River coho were functionally extinct, meaning there are no longer enough adults returning to the river in those years to sustain a viable population.- The process of restoring coho salmon habitat may get a bit easier for local landowners willing to undertake voluntary projects along Siskiyou County streams and rivers with the California legislature’s passage of Assembly Bill 1961, introduced by Assemblyman Jared Huffman (D–San Rafael). Dozens of unique habitat models at fishiding.comThe bill passed its final legislative hurdle on Aug. 27 with its approval by the California Assembly and now heads to the governor’s desk for his signature. First introduced in February, AB 1961 would expedite the approval process for voluntary habitat restoration projects by implementing a 30-day approval process and eliminating many of the usual regulatory hurdles for such in-stream projects.
“Coho salmon cannot afford to wait and neither can the communities where these restoration projects would provide much needed jobs,” said Huffman. “This bill lets us work together in a new way so that immediate actions can yield near-term results.”
Coho salmon generally have a three year life cycle. In 2010, the California Department of Fish and Game declared that two of the three brood years of Shasta River coho were functionally extinct, meaning there are no longer enough adults returning to the river in those years to sustain a viable population.
According to the text of the bill, “An urgency exists due to the extraordinarily small numbers of coho salmon remaining in California. In order to prevent their extinction from northern California waters, it is imperative that habitat restoration efforts be expedited and increased as soon as possible.”
Siskiyou County landowners and Resource Conservation Districts (RCDs) have cumulatively implemented millions of dollars worth of habitat restoration projects since coho were listed as threatened by both California and the federal Endangered Species Act in 1997. State and federal agencies say much more work must be done to aid the recovery of the species, though many landowners and stakeholders have complained that the permitting and regulatory processes create too many roadblocks.
AB 1961 directs state agencies to “expedite and streamline the permitting and approval of coho salmon habitat enhancement projects, including, in particular, large woody debris restoration projects, in northern California streams.”
The three main categories of projects eligible for the expedited process are as follows:
• Modification of existing water crossings for the purposes of eliminating a barrier to fish passage;
• Restoration of eroded or denuded streambanks by utilizing nonrock bioengineering practices and revegetating stream corridors with native riparian species; and
• Wood placement that benefits naturally reproducing fish stocks by creating or enhancing fish habitat, increasing stream complexity, or both.The bill stipulates, “Within 30 days after the [Department of Fish and Game] receives a written request to approve a coho salmon habitat enhancement project containing the information required pursuant to subdivision (c), the director shall determine whether the coho salmon habitat enhancement project is consistent with subdivision (a). If the director determines within that 30-day period, based upon substantial evidence, that the coho salmon enhancement project is consistent with subdivision (a), no further departmental approval shall be necessary.”
Executive director of the Scott River Water Trust Sari Sommarstrom has worked on many local habitat restoration projects and said, “Expediting state permitting was one of the few issues that everyone could agree on at the legislative hearing on coho last year. I’m glad that some cooperative progress in Sacramento was finally made, but the bill’s provisions are pretty limited. More progress from the state is still needed for those of us trying to help coho.”
%20with%20lawyers%20arguing%20over%20the%20admissibility%20of%20expert%20evidence%20from%20Dr.%20John%20Volpe%20of%20the%20University%20of%20Victoria%20and%20defendant%20Don%20Staniford%20expected%20to%20take%20the%20stand%20this%20afternoon%20(or%20tomorrow).%20Events%20start%20at%2010am%20in%20courtroom%20#52 (Hornby/Nelson St. entrance) with Justice Elaine Adair presiding - the trial is scheduled for 20 days (until 10 February) - read more details online here <http://salmonfarmingkills.com/blog> . Speaking exactly one year ago today when launching the 'Salmon Farming Kills' campaign (31 Jan 2011), Don Staniford said <http://salmonfarmingkills.com/press-releases> : "Salmon farming kills around the world and should carry a global health warning. As good global citizens we need to face the fact that salmon farming seriously damages human health, the health of our global ocean and the health of wild fish. Salmon farming is spreading in Norway, Chile, Scotland, Canada, Ireland, the Faroes, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and now in Russia like a malignant cancer on our coasts. Quit salmon farming now and help stub out farmed salmon from the face of our precious planet." Global coverage of the 'Salmon Farming Kills' lawsuit is spreading like wildfire all over the world. The more the Norwegian giant Cermaq (owned by Norway's Ministry of Trade and Industry) attempts to browbeat and bully defendant Don Staniford into silence the more the global backlash against salmon farming. And the more money flows into the coffers to pay Staniford's lawyer David Sutherland (please support the cause online here <http://www.gofundme.com/donstaniford> ). "When it comes to shooting themselves in the feet, few industries are as adept as <http://www.takepart.com/article/2012/01/06/salmon-lam-fish-farms-suffering- spate-escapes> industrial aquaculture," writes Barry Estabrook in Take Part (30 January). Fishing lodges across British Columbia stepped up to the plate yesterday (30 January). "Fishing lodges are circulating this poster, challenging other lodges to help pay Don Staniford's <http://www.gofundme.com/donstaniford> legal costs," wrote Alexandra Morton in her blog. "More and more people realize if we want wild salmon it is up to us." In Sweden, the fishing magazine Fiske Journalen is supporting the fight against Norwegian-owned salmon farming. An article - "Laxodling dödar <http://fiskejournalen.se/â?laxodling-dodarâ?/> " - published last week (26 January) included: http://www.superheroes4salmon.org/sites/default/files/images/Don in Swed ish fishing magazine.jpg In Norway too support is growing with 60,000 NOK ($10,000 donated) by a salmon fishermen's group called Reddvillaksen <http://www.reddvillaksen.no/2012/01/reddvillaksen-no-stotter-don-staniford- i-rettsaken-mot-mainstream-cermac-med-60-000-nok/> . The donation was featured by Norway's state broadcaster NRK in a news story <http://www.nrk.no/kanal/nrk_sapmi/1.7957119> (17 January). http://www.superheroes4salmon.org/sites/default/files/images/Don in NRK% 202.jpg Yesterday (30 January) Norwegian TV (TV2) broadcast another news story on the growing opposition to salmon farming in British Columbia. The news report featured footage from the mass rally for wild salmon in Victoria in 2010 with the chant "No more fish farms, no more fish farms" ringing out. http://www.superheroes4salmon.org/sites/default/files/images/TV2 on Terr y.jpg "Enough is enough," said Terry Dorward from Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation on the West Coast of Vancouver Island. "If the Government's not going to do it then I believe the people will. People will stand up and the people will shut these farms down. It's that much of an important issue that people will go and fill up those jails." http://www.superheroes4salmon.org/sites/default/files/images/TV2 on Terr y 2.jpg Watch online here <http://www.tv2.no/nyheter/utenriks/trusler-mot-norsk-lakseoppdrett-tas-ikke -alvorlig-3696035.html> (click on the orange play icon) This followed a TV2 news report on the 'Salmon Farming Kills' lawsuit (21 January) - including footage from outside the Supreme Court of British Columbia and interviews with Don Staniford and his lawyer David Sutherland - watch online here <http://www.tv2.no/nyheter/magasinet/don-kjemper-mot-norsk-lakseoppdrett-368 8619.html> (click the orange play icon). http://www.superheroes4salmon.org/sites/default/files/images/TV2 on laws uit 2(1).jpg Read more via 'Norway's TV 2 Lands in Vancouver: Mainstream/Cermaq SLAPP Suit Goes International' Speaking today (31 January) before he is scheduled to take the witness stand, Don Staniford said: "Wild salmon and all the other species which depend upon healthy wild salmon populations need to hear our voice. If we want wild Pacific salmon in British Columbia then we must stand up and fight against the Norwegian-owned multinationals who are farming disease-ridden Atlantic salmon here in the Pacific. Speak up now for wild salmon or they will go the way of the buffalo and East coast cod." Online in full via: http://salmonfarmingkills.com/blog/going-viral-salmon-farming-kills-spreadin g-isa){kind=link}