South Sound salmon projects win funding

JOHN DODGE, THE OLYMPIAN

Originally published Saturday, April 13, 2002

OLYMPIA -- More than $3.5 million in state and federal funds were awarded to 27 South Sound salmon recovery projects Friday by the state Salmon Recovery Funding Board.

The money will be used to acquire land critical to fish and improve fish passage on miles of streams blocked by road culverts and a railroad trestle.

The board, created by the 1999 state Legislature as a key player in statewide salmon recovery efforts, doled out money to more than 125 projects.

Groups receiving funds for projects include the Capitol Land Trust, Skokomish Indian Tribe, Thurston Conservation District, Nisqually River Basin Land Trust and South Puget Sound Salmon Enhancement Group.

The Skokomish Tribe received more than $600,000 for three projects. The money will allow the tribe to remove tide gates on some 120 acres of farmland in the Skokomish River Delta to transform it into saltwater habitat for fish.

It will also finance purchase of wetlands near Purdy Creek.

"Land acquisition provides the biggest bang for the buck," said Keith Dublanica, natural resources director for the tribe.

Eld Inlet acquisition, restoration

The Capitol Land Trust received $224,701 to continue purchasing and restoring land in the Mud Bay area of Eld Inlet.

The Nisqually River land trust secured more than $300,000 for ongoing efforts to preserve Nisqually River shoreline property and salmon habitat along Ohop Creek, a river tributary.

The South Puget Sound Salmon Enhancement Group garnered the largest single grant in the area -- $821,600 -- to restore fish passage on Sherwood Creek, which flows from Mason Lake into Case Inlet at Allyn.

A trestle on a rail line serving the Bremerton Naval Shipyard will be rebuilt where it crosses the creek so coho, chinook, chum, steelhead and sea-run cutthroat trout can spawn and rear upstream, enhancement group board member Jeff Zenk said.

Future funding in doubt

During its two-day meeting in Olympia, Salmon Funding Recovery Board members expressed concerns about a move by the 2002 state Legislature.

To help balance the budget, five state agencies were directed to seek salmon recovery money for programs typically financed out of the general fund. The total is $7 million.

So far, the board has authorized about $800,000 for state Fish and Wildlife and state Department of Ecology salmon and water quality research this spring.

Continued funding of state agency programs will mean less money for other projects, said board member Jim Peters, a member of the Squaxin Island Tribe.

"We don't want to be a scapegoat for the Legislature," he said.

John Dodge covers the environment and energy for The Olympian. He can be reached at 360-754-5444 or by e-mail at jdodge@olympia.gannett.com.

The Olympian Copyright 2002

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