WASHINGTON, DC – Thursday, funding requested by U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) for the restoration of endangered salmon and expansion of salmon restoration projects throughout the Pacific Northwest was included in the Senate Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2009.  Cantwell worked with her colleagues in the Senate to request that $90 million in funding be included to support the conservation and recovery of Pacific salmon across the Pacific Northwest’s rivers, watersheds, and coastal areas. 

 

“Protecting and preserving endangered salmon stocks is critical to the health of Washington state’s economy,” said Cantwell.  “This funding is critical to support projects for salmon recovery through local, state, federal, and tribal efforts.  I thank Senator Murray for her support and leadership in helping secure this funding, and I will continue working to support efforts to protect our state’s wild, endangered salmon population.”

 

The Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund (PCSRF) supports the conservation and recovery of Pacific salmon across the rivers, watersheds, and coastal areas they inhabit in Washington, Oregon, Alaska, Idaho and California.  PCSRF was established by Congress in response to the listings of Pacific salmon and steelhead populations in the 1990s as well as the 1999 Pacific Salmon Treaty Agreement.  In 1991, the federal government listed the Snake River Sockeye salmon as endangered under the Endangered Species Act.  This listing, combined with subsequent listings of Chinook, Coho, Chum and Steelhead and Bull Trout stocks, covers about 75% of Washington State.

 

Funds appropriated for Washington State go to the Salmon Recovery Funding Board (SRFB).  Since 2000, SRFB grants and applicant matching contributions have totaled more than $374 million for funding over 920 projects in Washington. Projects funded by the SRFB result in improvements to salmon habitat and the environment. PCSRF funds have been used by state, local and tribal entities to restore and protect salmon habitat, conduct watershed assessments, develop local plans for restoration efforts and management, enhance salmon populations, educate constituencies and conduct research to monitor, evaluate and support salmon conservation and recovery.

 

 

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