Stream Protection Measure Drying Up

The Senate has approved an even more scaled back declaration of streams where water quality should not be allowed to deteriorate any further.

On a 19-15 vote Friday, the declaration as outstanding resource waters for the Selway River, Middle Fork of the Salmon River, White Cap Creek, Running Creek and Bear Creek was sent to the House, where past declarations have died.

The list was pared from 68 nominees, and Senate Resources and Environment Chairman Laird Noh said approving the designation could help the state comply with a federal court order to clean up 962 stream segments statewide within five years.