| Press Release |
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| January 17, 2006 |
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Governor Lauds Public-Private Partnership to Improve Oregon Coast Coho Populations
Salem, OR – Today Governor Ted Kulongoski lauded the wide-ranging public/private effort driven by the Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds. He said this effort contributed to the federal government’s decision that the Oregon coastal coho populations in watersheds from Seaside to Cape Blanco do not warrant listing under the federal Endangered Species Act.
Following today’s announcement by the federal NOAA Fisheries, the Governor also pointed to the state’s $20 million-$30 million annual investment since 1997 and the non-regulatory contributions of private forest and agriculture landowners, watershed councils, local governments and other organizations that partnered to improve coho populations along Oregon’s coast, which ultimately helped lead to today’s announcement.
The Governor said that a state assessment of the coho population in the coastal watersheds found that the populations are viable, meaning they demonstrate sufficient abundance, productivity, distribution and diversity to be sustained and are likely to maintain their viability into the foreseeable future.
"We are pleased that NOAA Fisheries agrees with this assessment," Governor Kulongoski said. "I am committed to continuing our work on conservation and recovery actions to further strengthen the viability of Oregon Coast coho and to provide a full range of ecological, social and economic benefits for our coastal communities."
The assessment found that past actions taken in harvest management and hatchery management have reduced the adverse impacts of these activities and led to increased and more strategic habitat protection and restoration throughout the geographic area of the coastal coho populations. .
Governor Kulongoski said that because of the eight-year effort under the Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds, the coho assessment found that:
- The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife has substantially reduced wild salmon harvest levels, marked all hatchery fish, improved hatchery management and implemented critical life-cycle monitoring for coastal coho salmon.
- Local watershed councils, using hundreds of grants provided by the Oregon Watershed Enhancement board, have undertaken projects for stream improvements and habitat restoration work and have prioritized restoration efforts to address watershed conditions and improve salmon stocks.
- Oregon Plan efforts to coordinate fish and aquatic habitat monitoring have resulted in a common monitoring approach for spawning fish, juvenile fish, fish habitat, aquatic invertebrates, and water quality.
- Private forest landowners continue their investment of more than $31 million in forest road and culvert improvements.
- Agricultural water quality management area plans adopted for the coastal zone are being implemented with the assistance of the local soil and water conservation districts to address water quality resulting from agricultural operations.
Governor Kulongoski said more work remains, noting that the assessment also identified ongoing risk factors for each coho population in the coastal streams.
"Identifying these challenges will help us prioritize future management and restoration actions so we can continue to improve Oregon coast coho populations," the Governor said. "I am also committed to ensuring that this conservation and recovery plan meets the requirements of both the state Native Fish Conservation Policy and the federal ESA."
For detailed information on the coastal coho as well as a map of the affected area, go to:
http://www.oregon.gov/OWEB/biennialreport_v2_05.shtml.
http://www.oregon.gov/OWEB/docs/pubs/V2_05report/MapofESU.pdf.
Media Contact:
Anna Richter Taylor, (503) 378-6496
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