Salmon Recovery Status Report Joint Legislative Audit & Review Committee Linda Byers September 14, 2005

2 Endangered Species Act Listings of Salmon & Steelhead Fish listed in WA and the Northwest –Snake River sockeye in 1991 –12 species in WA listed between 1992 and 1999 –One additional WA listing during this review What happens with a listing: –Recovery plan must be developed –Species isn’t to be “harmed” while recovering Given WA’s spotted owl experience, serious concern over listings Report pages 2-3

3 National Marine Fisheries Service Designates “Recovery Domains” The 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

4 National Marine Fisheries Service Designates “Recovery Domains” Lower Columbia Willamette River Upper Columbia Middle Columbia Oregon Coast South Western Washington Puget Sound WA ORID Report pages 2-3

5 Washington’s Response to the Listings State should retain primary responsibility rather than abdicate to federal agency (1998) — NMFS has agreed to this Two-pronged approach: Governor’s Salmon Recovery Office (1998) Salmon Recovery Funding Board (1999) Take immediate steps toward recovery, like habitat improvements Develop recovery plans Report pages 3-5

6 Governor’s Salmon Recovery Office Identifies Recovery Regions Coastal Puget Sound Mid Columbia Lower Columbia Upper Columbia Northeast Washington Snake Report page 4

7 Current Status in Recovery Planning In transition right now between completing these regional salmon recovery plans and switching over to plan implementation (handout) Note: –Status –Plan timeframe –Early estimate of costs Report pages 5-7 and profiles after page 13

8 Resolution Still Needed on Monitoring At least two challenges: –Identifying what is necessary for ESA compliance –Consistency across regions and states A Washington and multi-state group are discussing these issues but haven’t yet reached conclusions NMFS has not weighed in on monitoring expectations Report pages 7-8

9 What’s Next for Recovery Plans Completion of Washington’s regional salmon recovery plans; NMFS Announcement: Draft recovery plans for all listed Northwest salmon and steelhead by December 2005 –Areas/listed species in Washington not covered by regional plans –Parts of recovery domains in other states Report page 9

10 What’s Next for the Legislature Likely issues include: –Salmon recovery organizational structure Governor’s Salmon Recovery Office terminates in June 2007 –Salmon recovery funding –Definition of “salmon” Report pages 9-11, Appendix 3

11 Additional Information Before Session Versions of regional plans submitted to NMFS Drafts of recovery plans developed by NMFS Regional group proposals on structure for plan implementation Regional group 18-month schedules and cost estimates for implementing plans Report and recommendations from Governor’s Forum on Monitoring Information on federal funds for salmon recovery actions Report page 12

12 Regional Recovery Plan Profiles Region Listed fish Planning board Staffing for board The recovery plan: –Goal or vision –Recovery targets –Timeframe –Early estimate of costs Connections to other planning efforts –Subbasin Planning –Watershed Planning –Lead Entities Additional comments Plan status and next steps Websites to find additional information Report page 13 and sections in color