State Hopes To Save Bull Trout Without Feds If Strategy Fails, Fish Would Be Listed As Endangered Species

The Fish and Game Department has a new habitat-protection strategy for bull trout that might keep the fish off the endangered species list.

But so far, miners, grazers and loggers haven’t signed the necessary agreements, said Will Reid, policy analyst.

Reid said Thursday Fish and Game worked with timber industry officials on standards to protect bull trout and other fish. “We’re actively pushing agencies, individuals and companies to adopt conservation agreements, but so far, no one has done that,” he told the Fish and Game Commission.

“This is what the fish need,” Reid said. “It just calls for good land management practices.”

An endangered listing of bull trout is warranted, Reid said, because populations are down and habitat is degraded.

But an endangered species listing doesn’t do anything positive for the fish until logging, mining, grazing and road-building activities are altered to protect fish habitat, he said.

“The mechanisms are there to protect habitat, it just isn’t happening on the ground,” he said.

Fish and Game Commission members said they are eager to see the self-imposed land use limitations adopted by landowners.

“It’s our intent to get out ahead of the curve,” said Commission Chairman Keith Carlson.

New Commissioner Jeff Siddoway said he doubted the agency would adopt standards less stringent than the federal government.

“You’re not going to outrun the Endangered Species Act,” he said.But since no conservation agreements are in place, the federal agency is not swayed, Klahr said. “To us, it’s all just paper. Nothing on the ground has happened.”A decision on the listing is expected in June.