From time to time I have kept this board updated and informed on what is happening to the Cowlitz River and it management. That has always been one of my main goals for debating fishery issues on this board.
During some of my updates, some members have claimed that I am always having some kind of "conspiracy" going on about WDFW. Think whatever you may!
When I see that WDFW is listening to its people, and taking their constituents concerns into consideration on how certain rivers should be managed, I will give them their duly earned credit!
Lately, WDFW has been coming under a lot of negative criticism by some because they have not supported a total 100% wrs on every river system in the State. The letter bellow is a perfect example of where WDFW has listen to its constituents, taken "public comment" and have attended "work shop meetings" to discuss a "plan" (FHMP) and have then acted in the best interest of both the fish and the people. Tacoma Power has gone out of its way to attempt to make the Cowlitz River a "wild fish" river. Like all governmental agencies, WDFW has its "bureaucrats" that will follow along and do whatever the others tend to want to do. The Cowlitz is a perfect example of how some of WDFW's people were apparently duke by others. After WDFW requested an extension of time so that the "public" could get their comments in on the Tacoma's draft Fish Hatchery Management Plan (FHMP) many things that were not know before, has now become known to WDFW!
My organization (CPR-Fish) alone had submitted over 44 pages of written comments and facts on Tacoma's draft FHMP. It is our belief that WDFW has now consider our facts and has notified Tacoma that they (WDFW) are no longer going along with Tacoma's plan as written.
It now appears that the Cowlitz River fishery will have a more "balanced plan" that will allow both hatchery and natural produced fish to coexist without interfering with each others genetics. I for one would like to thank WDFW for taking the time to reconsider a plan that would certainly have doomed the future sport fishery on the Cowlitz. When WDFW does it job correctly, they should be applauded. When they don't they should be scolded. So I applaud WDFW for using good science, and for allowing the pubic a have full opportunity for public to make comment before taking the action in the new revised FHMP.
It just goes to show us that WE can make a difference in how WDFW decides to manage our fish and our rivers when given time to make our public comments!
___________________________________________________________________
Olympia, WA March 15, 2004
Mr. Pat McCarty
Tacoma Power 3628
South 35th Street Tacoma,
Washington, 9841DY-3192
Dear Mr. McCarty
I am deeply concerned that the draft Fishery and Hatchery Management Plan (FHMP), dated January 6, 2004, does not satisfactorily address the principles of the Settlement Agreement for the Cowlitz River Hydroelectric Project. The principles clearly indicate that fishery obligations will be met through a complementary combination of wild stock recovery and artificial production. The draft plan fails to effectively use both tools - production of cutthroat and resident trout is eliminated, production of steelhead is reduced by 250,000 fish, and fall chinook production is reduced by 1.64 million fish. The plan provides insufficient justification for why fall chinook production, for example, must be substantially reduced even before the success of passage improvements and production from the upper basin has been verified. This is but one example of the failure of the draft plan to meet the wild stock recovery, fishery, and other obligations of the agreement. Our constituents desire and the Settlement Agreement requires substantial improvements in the draft plan.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is committed to working collaboratively with Tacoma Power to ensure that the final FHMP meets the requirements of the License. Although NVDFW staff attempted to assist Tacoma Power in developing the draft plan, it is apparent that the previous planning process failed to achieve the desired result. I have asked Jim Scott, Chief Fish Scientist, to contact Debbie Young to schedule a meeting with Assistant Director Lew Atkins to discuss options for drafting a final plan that we can collectively support. In addition, I have heard it may be useful to reaffirm that we share a common understanding of the role of WDFW in future artificial production and evaluation activities.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Jim Scott or me at (360) 902-2736.
Sincerely,
Jeff Koenings,Ph.D.
Director
CC: Bob Reid - CPR-Fish,
Dave Becker - Friends of the Cowlitz, and
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