Revised Grays River habitat plan in the works

The Lower Columbia Fish Recovery Board hopes to have an update this summer of the habitat project planning that proved to be so controversial last fall.

The agency presented a list of possible projects designed to improve habitat for salmon and steelhead last fall.

Grays River Valley residents strongly opposed the list, saying the projects put fish over people and wouldn't do anything to ease the valley's continuing troubles with flooding.

"Based on that input, we're proposing to work with the consulting team to amend the draft study to include those points," executive director Jeff Breckel said at a board meeting last Friday in Cathlamet.

Breckel noted that the primary goal of habitat restoration is to assist in recovering endangered salmon and steelhead. The board recognizes that such efforts must also work for the people, he said.

He added that the board relies on willing landowners and organizations to sponsor projects, which the board can help finance.

"No habitat restoration project proposed for funding through the LCFRB can or will be undertaken without the full consent of the landowner," he said.

"Habitat restoration efforts can help to address flooding and channel instability problems, but cannot in themselves solve these problems."

He also said any habitat project must be designed to avoid adverse effects on upstream and downstream properties. Project sponsors should consult with neighboring property owners in designing and implementing projects.

Recovery board member Lee Grose commented that the wording should be, "Project sponsors will consult, not should consult."

Breckel said the revised draft should be ready at the beginning of June and the final draft should be complete by the end of July so that it can be submitted to the board for consideration in late summer or early fall.

Delvin Fredrickson, a Grays River landowner and member of the Grays River Habitat Enhancement District, offered several comments. He urged the board to require project sponsors to notify formally the owners of neighboring property about any projects so that they could consider possible impacts.

Luke Kato affirmed that recommendation.

"It can make a difference when you're not informed," he said. "Trust can be destroyed.

"We had a project performed on our riverbank without our will. Once the damage has been done, it's too late. We want more a community aspect, a cooperative endeavor."