Salmon Recovery Status ReportJoint Legislative Audit & Review Committee

Linda ByersSeptember 14, 2005

Endangered Species Act Listings of Salmon & SteelheadFish listed in WA and the NorthwestSnake River sockeye in 199112 species in WA listed between 1992 and 1999One additional WA listing during this reviewWhat happens with a listing:Recovery plan must be developedSpecies isnt to be harmed while recoveringGiven WAs spotted owl experience, serious concern over listingsReport pages 2-3

National Marine Fisheries Service Designates Recovery DomainsThe ESA directs the federal listing agency, in this case the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), to develop a recovery plan. NMFS has taken the step of designating recovery domains for listed salmon and steelhead in the Northwest.Report pages 2-3

National Marine Fisheries ServiceDesignates Recovery DomainsLower Columbia Willamette RiverUpper Columbia Middle Columbia Oregon CoastSouth Western WashingtonPuget SoundWAORIDReport pages 2-3

Washingtons Response to the ListingsState should retain primary responsibility rather than abdicate to federal agency (1998)NMFS has agreed to this Two-pronged approach:

Governors Salmon Recovery Office (1998)Salmon Recovery Funding Board (1999)

Take immediate steps toward recovery, like habitat improvementsDevelop recovery plansReport pages 3-5

Governors Salmon Recovery Office Identifies Recovery RegionsCoastalPuget SoundMid ColumbiaLower ColumbiaUpper ColumbiaNortheast WashingtonSnakeReport page 4

Current Status in Recovery PlanningIn transition right now between completing these regional salmon recovery plans and switching over to plan implementation (handout) Note:StatusPlan timeframeEarly estimate of costsReport pages 5-7 and profiles after page 13

Resolution Still Needed on MonitoringAt least two challenges:Identifying what is necessary for ESA compliance Consistency across regions and statesA Washington and multi-state group are discussing these issues but havent yet reached conclusionsNMFS has not weighed in on monitoring expectationsReport pages 7-8

Whats Next for Recovery PlansCompletion of Washingtons regional salmon recovery plans;NMFS Announcement: Draft recovery plans for all listed Northwest salmon and steelhead by December 2005Areas/listed species in Washington not covered by regional plansParts of recovery domains in other statesReport page 9

Whats Next for the LegislatureLikely issues include:Salmon recovery organizational structureGovernors Salmon Recovery Office terminates in June 2007Salmon recovery fundingDefinition of salmonReport pages 9-11, Appendix 3

Additional Information Before SessionVersions of regional plans submitted to NMFSDrafts of recovery plans developed by NMFSRegional group proposals on structure for plan implementationRegional group 18-month schedules and cost estimates for implementing plansReport and recommendations from Governors Forum on MonitoringInformation on federal funds for salmon recovery actionsReport page 12

Regional Recovery Plan ProfilesRegionListed fishPlanning boardStaffing for boardThe recovery plan:Goal or visionRecovery targetsTimeframeEarly estimate of costsConnections to other planning effortsSubbasin PlanningWatershed PlanningLead EntitiesAdditional commentsPlan status and next stepsWebsites to find additional informationReport page 13 and sections in color