Commission hears report from salmon recovery board

The Lower Columbia Fish Recovery Board is focusing on a variety of species recovery and watershed management issues that will include Wahkiakum County, Executive Director Jeff Breckel said Tuesday in a report to the Wahkiakum County commissioners.

The recovery board funnels state money for salmon and steelhead recovery into projects in Wahkiakum, Cowlitz, Clark and Skamania counties.

It funds stream restoration projects and projects such as replacing failing culverts that are barriers to fish passage. It also works in regional species restoration planning efforts and several watershed restoration planning efforts.

Members of the board from the county include Commissioner Blair Brady and Skamokawa resident Irene Martin, who is active in the commercial fishing industry.

The addition of Martin to the board has brought insights into the commercial industry, Breckel commented, and it has helped other board members understand how harvest is part of species management.

The board also works to leverage state funding with local sources to produce the biggest impact possible, he said.

Since the board started, it has funded 173 projects valued at $45.2 million, Breckel said. Of those projects, 36 were in Wahkiakum County and had a value of $11.9 million. There were 18 restoration projects, nine study and design activities, four acquisition projects and five combination acquisition and restoration projects.

Projects have to benefit fish and communities, Breckel said.

"We have been very careful to make sure we address local concerns," Breckel said. "Some projects on the Grays River have been set aside as we didn't know the value to the community."

Breckel, commissioners and members of the audience discussed various potential projects and their implications.

Breckel said the board works to benefit habitat and fish. "We find we can do both," he said.

Commissioner Dan Cothren suggested there have to be trade-offs, such as in re-establishing runs in local streams. Sometimes biologists theories don't agree with local knowledge gained through first-hand observation.