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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Panel Targets Land Use Around Spawning Streams Fish And Wildlife Supports Restrictions Affecting Timber, Other Interests

Associated Press

The state Fish and Wildlife Commission has given a preliminary OK to a plan that calls for broad new restrictions on land use around streams where salmon and steelhead spawn.

Fishing, timber and farming interests and Indian tribes remain concerned about the plan approved Friday, however, saying it could lead to costly constraints on landowners and reduced fish harvests.

Timber interests, for example, estimate that about 1 million acres of forest - with trees valued at $6 billion - would become off-limits to logging.

A final vote is set for September, and the proposal could still be changed before then. Implementing any new land-use policies would be up to other state agencies.

“This is simply a milestone in a long process,” commissioner John McGlenn said. “We still have a lot of work to do.”

Two commissioners appointed last week by Gov. Gary Locke asked that the vote be delayed, but joined the others in the unanimous vote after receiving assurances the policy would remain open for changes. They are Milton “Bud” Mercer of Prosser, who represents agricultural interests, and Bellingham attorney Will Roehl, who is close to the commercial fishing community.

The plan is designed to help revive struggling salmon and steelhead stocks before federal agencies step in to protect the fish. It would:

End overfishing of wild fish runs in areas where catches have been set to maximize harvests of hatchery fish.

Focus fishing seasons on strong stocks to avoid accidental catches of weak or endangered wild fish.

Limit or ban harvests when fish returns are poor because of a lack of food in the ocean. This is already practiced.

Change hatchery operations to keep hatchery fish from breeding with or preying on wild fish.

Institute improved safeguards for salmon streams, ranging from enforcing laws against culverts that block fish passage, to curbs on development and water use.

Commission members said they had worked in recent weeks to address the concerns of industries and the tribes.

For example, the draft now says streamside buffers up to 150 feet wide where logging would be banned are only recommendations.

Current regulations often allow 25-foot buffers.

The bigger buffers are a major concern to timber owners, said Bob Gustafson of the Washington Forest Protection Association, an industry trade group that developed the $6 billion impact estimate.

At Mercer’s request, language was also added to emphasize the “need to maintain strong and vibrant economic conditions for forestry and agriculture for the long term.”