The role of the Governor's Watershed Enhancement Board and Watershed Councils
The role of the Governor's Watershed Enhancement Board and Watershed Councils The development of the Oregon Coastal Salmon Restoration Initiative (CSRI) began in October 1995 when Governor Kitzhaber directed all state natural resource agencies to develop a cooperative action plan aimed at leading to the restoration of the health of Oregon's native coastal salmon populations to productive and sustainable levels. Coastal coho populations from the Columbia River to central California were proposed for listing by The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), in July 1995, under the federal Endangered Species Act. Currently, NMFS is scheduled to make a decision by April 25, 1997 on Oregon and Northern California coastal stocks of coho. Central California stocks were listed as threatened on October 25, 1996. It is hoped that the unprecedented scientific effort and commitment to action of the CSRI will offer federal officials an alternative to an Endangered Species Act listing for coastal coho stocks.
The CSRI Plan entails a long term commitment by local, state and federal land managers and private landowners to address watershed protection and enhancement. The plan emphasizes voluntary versus regulatory approaches. The improvement of compliance with current environmental protection laws is a priority. The goal, however, is to make the current system work better without having to develop new laws and regulations.
The cornerstone of the program is the formation of cooperative partnerships committed to seeking common solutions to protect and restore the health of Oregon's ecosystems. The most effective means to mobilize, educate, and involve local citizens in this effort is through the creation and support of local Watershed Councils.
Local Watershed Councils are the focal point of Oregon's decision making and for local involvement in habitat protection and restoration for the Coastal Salmon Restoration Initiative. Watershed Council responsibilities include assessing and prioritizing specific limiting factors to salmon recovery, integrating the role of local landowners, making habitat improvement decisions based on the best available science and prioritizing and implementing on the ground work. An important aspect of long term salmon recovery is the ability to integrate watershed assessment and implementation of recovery efforts across all ownerships within in the watershed. The coordination of planning and implementation efforts across federal, state and private ownership boundaries is a goal of Watershed Councils.
Since 1987, the Governor's Watershed Enhancement Board (GWEB) has taken a strong lead in the promoting and funding of demonstration watershed enhancement and education projects. The passage of HB 3441, during the 1995 legislative session, gave GWEB the additional role of providing technical support to Watershed Councils, working with councils to develop long-term, stable funding for Watershed Council infrastructure, providing councils with information relating to watersheds and continuing to coordinate the efforts of these councils.
The Governor's Natural Resources Investment Budget proposal for the 1997-99 biennium requests $20 million in grant funds for the CSRI, Healthy Streams Partnership and GWEB projects. These funds, if approved, will be used to help provide councils funding for watershed assessments and action plan development, monitoring, council support, education and outreach and "on the ground" project work.
GWEB will also be responsible for setting up and coordinating watershed level monitoring efforts. In phase two of the CSRI, GWEB will take on a major role in monitoring the progress of the restoration initiative. This task will entail summarizing the actions and monitoring results of agencies, Watershed Councils and other local entities on an annual basis. This evaluation will be the gauge of progress and success of the habitat portion of the CSRI.
The CSRI Plan is just the first step in a long-term commitment to protect and restore our native salmon stocks in Oregon. The CSRI recognizes and incorporates the vital role Watershed Councils play in the efforts to restore native salmon stocks. The GWEB Program will continue to assist and support Watershed Councils to the level the program is able to dependent upon future funding levels. Alone, neither governmental agencies nor individuals can restore our native salmon stocks. United through a cooperative effort, however, we can reach the goal of restoring our coastal salmon populations to sustainable levels.
