The Fishing Line Olympia Chapter #189 of Trout Unlimited

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1 The Fishing Line Olympia Chapter #189 of Trout Unlimited (Since 1973) May 2009 Issue # 212 Speaker: Hal Michael and Bob Vadas (WDFW Biologists) Topic: Coastal Cutthroat Trout biology and ecology May 27 th Liars' Drift at 6:30 pm, Meeting at 7:00 pm Casa Mia Restaurant (716 Plum Street, Olympia, WA) Meeting Place Casa Mia Restaurant (716 Plum Street, Olympia, WA) The Chapter's new meeting location at the Casa Mia Restaurant (716 Plum Street). Please request that attendees carpool, park on the street, or in nearby parking lots due to limited Casa Mia customer parking. Program This month May 27 Hal Michael and Bob Vadas (WDFW Biologists) talk about Coastal Cutthroat Trout biology (Hal) and ecology (Bob) Editors Note. Now that we have a web site members will be given a choice on how they want their newsletter delivered. The first way will be as an atachment as it has been, the second will be to post it on the web site and send an that lets you know that its on the web site and also tells members about the monthly program. This may be better for members that only have dial up web access. Notify me of your wishes. Ron Smorynski. Ronaldvs@me.com or Table of Contents Program, page 1 Duck Dash page 3 Down The Line page 3 Summer Events Planned for Olympia TU page 3 Members Only Raffle page 3 Friends of the Olympia Chapter of TU page 3 Legislative Session 09 page 4 12th Annual Sturgeon Trip page 5 Salmon fishing, Westport page 6 Barrier Free Fishing Week At Cole s Pond page 6 Executive Board Meeting Minutes page 6 Public invited to propose rule changes (WDFW) page 8 Working Snake River Project page 8 Plastic Peril on the Wynoochee page 9 Testimony to the Bonneville Power Administration page 9 Chapters Activities during the past month page 11 Duck Dash Olympia Chapter in Lacey Rotary will once again be sponsoring the 20th Annual Duck Dash Food and Fun Fair on June 6th at Tumwater Falls Park. Olympia Chapter of TU will be once again be manning the finish line on the Deschutes River below the old falls. Ducks will again rent for $5.00 and the prizes range from a 2009 Ford Mustang, $2,500 cash from Venture Bank, lodging at Great Wolf Lodge for a family of four, $1,000 cash from Lucky Eagle Casino. There will be a total of 11 prizes which the last one is a gift certificate to Sportsman Warehouse for $ I will be sponsoring the 5th prize which is $ fishing gear from Cabela's and a drift trip for summer steelhead for two. Tickets have been handed out to the board members of TU and I have a lot left over. We need to sell 500 tickets at $5.00 each and we get a rebate of 75% from Lacey Rotary. Therefore it is our biggest fundraiser of the year! I will need HELP manning the finish line below the old falls where the old Olympia Brewery is. We will set up the flotation device on the river and a gill net below the flotation devices to catch the extra ducks. We will start at 10 AM on June 6th and I will need people with small boats, canoe's or kayak's to assist in helping to pick up the ducks after the race is over. Be sure to bring your nets. There will be a reward of $ to the boat and it's crew that bring in the most ducks after the race is over. Please call me at It is the most fun event that we do for the year! Let's make this the largest fundraiser we have done in the history of the Duck Dash and in order to do this we need your help for a few hours on the 6th of June!! 1

2 TROUT UNLIMITED S MISSION To conserve, protect and restore North America s coldwater fisheries and their watersheds. Olympia Chapter Awards State Council Steelhead Trout Award: Most Outstanding Washington Chapter of Trout Unlimited 1986, 1987, 2002, State Council Outstanding Newsletter Award 1987,1990, National Trout Unlimited Silver Trout Award: Outstanding Chapter in the Western Region Trout Unlimited Gold Trout Award State Council Silver Trout Award: Most Outstanding Washington Chapter of Trout Unlimited State Council Jerry Pavletich Award Outstanding Chapter Aquatic Education Program of the Year State Council Outstanding Chapter Aqautic Education Program of the Year State Council Web Site Award Trout Unlimited (National): Washington Council of Trout Unlimited Olympia Chapter of Trout Unlimited: OFFICERS-TRUSTEES-DIRECTORS, 2009 President: Jim Wilcox, Vice President: Paul Sparks, Secretary: Vacant Treasurer: Ron Holtcamp, Membership: Vacant Past Presidents: Ronald Smorynski Board of Trustees: 1 Year: Dick Nye, Year: Kim Malcom, Year: Bill Hiblar, Board of Directors: 1 Year: Jim Brosio, George Grinstine, Tom Boyle, Year:Bob Vadas, Terry Turner, Dwight Caron, Year: Tom Schroedel, Bob Leingang, Joe Durham, Neighboring Chapter Representative: Mason County: Mark Biser Neighboring Chapter Representative: South Cascades: Ric Abbett, Articles for newsletter to: Ronald Smorynski ronaldvs@mac.com COMMITTEES, 2009 WCTU Support: Chair - Jim Wilcox, State Raffle - Jim Wilcox, Environmental Action: Chair - Paul Sparks Sound GREEN - Ron Holtcamp, Deschutes River Project Coordinator - vacant Nisqually River Coordinator - Paul Sparks, Murray Creek Project Coordinator - Ron Holtcamp, Fellowship: Columbia River Sturgeon - Terry Turner, Westport Salmon - Jim Wilcox, Annual Chapter Picnic & Kid s Fishing Day - Kim Malcom, Fish Enhancement: Kim Malcom, Salmon/Steelhead -Vacant Trout - Jim Brosio, Public Relations: Legislation/Government - Paul Sparks, Media & Advertising Relations - Bill Hiblar, American Lake VA Hospital Fishing Program - Ron Holtcamp, Project Healing Waters - Dwight Caron, Chapter Fund Raising: Raffles - Paul Sparks, Members only Raffle - Jim Wilcox, Grants - Tom Schroedel, Duck Dash - Kim Malcom Friends of the Olympia Chapter - Jim Wilcox, Garage Sale - Jim Wilcox, Information & Education: Monthly Programs - George Grinstine, Newsletter - Ronald Smorynski, Shows & Clinics - George Grinstine, NW Youth Conservation and Fly Fishing Academy - Dick Nye, Lacey Family Fish-in - Terry Turner, Web Site - Jim Wilcox, Awards - Jim Wilcox, Legislative Hot Line, (800) TU National Office, (703) Fish & Wildlife Commission, For five decades, TROUT UNLIMITED has been the world s leading trout and salmon conservation organization. Whether they are planning and building stream-improvement projects, or teaching young people the importance of protecting wild fish and their habitat, TU s 127,000 members and 455 chapters across the U.S. and Canada are actively engaged in the fight to protect and restore our precious trout and salmon resources. 2

3 Membership Renewal We no longer receive rebates for submitting these ourselves, and sending or giving your renewal check to our Chapter means TU will continue to send you renewal reminders because of their 2 3 months delay in updating your membership. The bad news is you won t get this newsletter if your membership is over three months overdue. So get your renewal envelope back to National pronto. If you sign up as a new member $15 is rebated to our chapter. Members Only Raffle by Jim Wilcox It s time to purchase your Members Only Raffle tickets. A 100-ticket raffle will be held to generate funds to support the Olympia Chapter s conservation and education activities. Your investment of $5.00 per ticket could land you a Lamiglas Northwest Special (N386MC) rod paired with an Abu Garcia Ambassadeur left hand retrieve reel (5501C3). The Memberss Only Raffle prizes were provided in part by Larry's Tackle Closet. Tickets are available at Olympia Chapter meetings. You can also purchase your Members Only Raffle tickets by sending a check for $5.00 per ticket to Olympia Chapter of Trout Unlimited (MOR), PO Box 7708, Olympia, WA Down The Line June 1 thru 4 Barrier Free Fishing at Cole s Pond June 6 Duck Dash June 7 Potluck Picnic & Kids Fish - In at Cole s Pond June 19 12th Annual Sturgeon Trip Ilwaco June 21 thru 27 NW Youth Conservation and Fly Fishing Academy, August 22 Chapter Potluck Picnic at Friends Landing September 3 Salmon Fishing, Westport Sep 11 thru 27 Puyallup Fair TU Booth at Puyallup Fun Summer Events Planned for Olympia TU Members and Guests by Jim Wilcox Now that almost half of our year is over and a great deal of work is behind us, it s time to have some fun and to celebrate our achievements. Early in the year, our members who chose to share their opinions let us know they wanted like high-quality, monthly membership programs and Chapter outings. The programs that George Grinstine and others have lined up to date have been outstanding with their excellent mix of fishing techniques, conservation, ecology and biology. This month s program featuring WDFW biologists Bob Vadas and Hal Michael will certainly provide an excellent overview of ecology and biology associated with local searun cutthroat trout. Now, about this summer s Olympia Chapter outings On June 7, beginning at 9:00 AM, the Olympia Chapter will hold our annual Chapter Potluck Picnic and Kids Fish-In for Olympia Chapter members and guests at Noel Cole s Pond on the Newaukum River in Lewis County. Kim Malcom ( ) is heading up this hugely-popular event. June 19 will find several Olympia Chapter members and our guests on the Columbia River fishing in two of Pacific Salmon Charters boats for the mighty sturgeon. Thanks to Terry Turner s leadership, this trip is totally booked. August 22 nd will find us at Friends Landing on the Chehalis River near Montesano for another potluck picnic. We ll be in Kitchen #2. Fishing opportunities will be available in the Chehalis for sturgeon and salmon and in Quigg Lake. There s a lot to do for the entire family at this amazing facility. Last, but not least, Olympia TU members and our guests will be salmon fishing on Slammer (Deep Sea Charters, Westport) on September 1. This is an excellent opportunity to catch late summer, ocean-bright coho (silvers) and chinook (kings). As always, you ll want to check the latest WDFW fishing regulations and license requirements before sampling the resource. 3

4 The details for these events and other Olympia Chapter activities are available on our website at Good Luck! Dear Friends of the Olympia Chapter of Trout Unlimited, As mentioned in the letter sent to Olympia Chapter members and a few corporate supporters, the names of folks participating as Friends of the Olympia Chapter will be published in The Fishing Line. You are invited to join the Olympia Chapter supporters below who have contributed at least $100 to this special fundraising campaign: Linda Jones Jim and Dana Wilcox Wayne Williams Please send your check for $100 ($125 couple) to Olympia Chapter Trout Unlimited, Friends of the Olympia Chapter, PO Box 7708, Olympia, WA, Your support of our efforts to protect and restore our wild trout, steelhead and salmon is truly appreciated. In support of these many activities, I am inviting you to join Dana and me to be among the first to contribute to a new fundraising campaign; Friends of the Olympia Chapter of Trout Unlimited (Friends). As a member of Friends, you ll be invited each year to at least one complimentary lunch or dinner with other Friends and will be entered into Friends-only raffle drawings throughout the year. You ll also be recognized in each issue of our web-based monthly newsletter and in a Friends section on our web site. Please send your Friends of the Olympia Chapter of Trout Unlimited check for $100 (individual) or $125 (couple) to: Olympia Chapter of Trout Unlimited, PO Box 7708, Olympia, WA, Larger contributions will also be appreciated and will be put to good work. Thank you in advance for your extraordinary support of the Olympia Chapter of Trout Unlimited. Sincerely, James E. Wilcox President Olympia Chapter, Trout Unlimited Legislative Session 09 By Ric Abbett This legislative session was dominated by budget issues due to the ongoing economic crisis. Facing cuts of $31 million dollars, the WDFW was prepared to lay off 160 people from their jobs and make drastic reductions in programs and hatchery production. Working with key budget writers in both parties, the Washington Council of Trout Unlimited spearheaded efforts to fill budget holes with creative measures to increase revenue. 4

5 SSB 5421, The Columbia River Recreational Salmon and Steelhead Pilot Stamp Program, signed into law May 8, 2009, was sponsored by Senator Linda Evans Parlette. It was the culmination of over a years worth of work by the Icicle Valley Chapter in building community support for a novel approach to providing fishing opportunity in their local area of the Upper Columbia River. The idea was embraced by state fisheries managers and expanded to include the lower reaches all the way to Astoria. The goal of the pilot project is to continue and, if possible, expand selective recreational fishing opportunities on the Columbia River and its tributaries. The improvement of fishing opportunities will be done by supplementing resources available to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife for scientific monitoring, data collection, permitting, enforcement, and other activities necessary to accomplish the pilot project's goals. The non-appropriated Columbia River Recreational Salmon and Steelhead Pilot Stamp Program Account was created as a source of funding for the WDFW to administer the pilot project. The Account is primarily funded through an additional fee of $7.50 that must be made by any person over the age of 15 that is participating in a recreational salmon or steelhead fishery on the Columbia River or one of its tributaries. The affected fisheries are those located on the Columbia River from the Chief Joseph Dam to a line in the river drawn from Washington's Rocky Point to Oregon's Tongue Point. By September 1, 2009, WDFW must develop a list of tributaries to the Columbia where a stamp is required to fish recreationally and must determine whether it will issue stamps or endorsements. The WDFW must consult with an advisory board comprised of recreational salmon and steelhead anglers in regards to the administration of the pilot project. The WDFW must name between six and ten people to the advisory board and must give consideration to nominees from recognized recreational fishing organizations located near the Columbia River and seek to create equitable geographic representation. The Director of the WDFW must seek to reach consensus with the advisory board on all expenditures from the Account and provide advisory board members with written explanations of each expenditure from the Account that is divergent from the advisory board's recommendations, enforcement, and other activities necessary to accomplish the pilot project's goals. HB 1778, Modifying various provisions of Title 77 RCW, began with a proposal for two poles on lowland lakes for a fee. Senator Dan Swecker met with WCTU, tribes and state officials, resulting in a proposal creating a $20 fee for most anglers and a $5 fee for state residents over the age of 69, to allow for an additional rod to fund hatchery production to eliminate cuts and some closures of facilities. HB 1778 became an omnibus bill in the Senate and eventually the vehicle for an amendment to create a surcharge for licenses. There is no additional surcharge fee on the Columbia River stamp. "The 10 percent surcharge on hunting and fishing licenses and an endorsement stamp for anglers in the Columbia River Basin will bring in about $10 million" said Phil Anderson, acting Fish and Wildlife director. In the culmination of another effort by WCTU with the Ballast Water Work Group, a provision was included on aquatic invasive species so that the WDFW enforcement division may provide aquatic invasive species instruction training to other local law enforcement. Also, a person entering Washington while transporting watercraft must have in their possession documentation that the watercraft has been inspected and found free of aquatic invasive species. The cost of impounding, transporting, cleaning, and decontaminating watercraft that is contaminated with aquatic invasive species will be paid by the person in possession of the watercraft when it is inspected. From Left to Right Ric Abbett, Mike Cenci, Governor Gregoire, Heather Bartlett, and Bill Tweit Olympia TU Chapter 12th Annual Sturgeon Trip Pacific Salmon Charters Ilwaco, Washington Friday June 19, 2009 Here are some reminders for those of you who are going on our sturgeon trip. 5

6 1. Make sure you purchase your fishing license prior to June 19th. You will NOT have time to purchase your license on the morning of June 19th. 2. On the morning of the 19th do NOT go to the office of Pacific Salmon Charters. Your fee has been paid and your name is already on the boat roster. Go directly to your boat. (see below). 3. Be on board your boat by 5:30 am. Rod / reel and bait will be provided. 4. Bring the following items: Lunch Rain gear and warm clothing $2.00 for pool (The person who catches the 1st legal fish caught splits pool with person who catches the longest legal fish) One person can win both. $5.00 for deck hand collected on the return trip to port 5. Most of us meet for dinner about 6:00 pm Thursday evening at Douger s in Long Beach. They have great food. 6. If you haven t made your motel room reservations yet, I suggest you do so today. This year the sturgeon season for catch and keep ends on June 24th. Consequently, availability of motel rooms in the month of June could well be at a premium. Most of us stay at either Heidi s Motel in Ilwaco, or the Harbor Lights Motel in Ilwaco, There are other motels available in Ilwaco, Seaview, and Long Beach. Westward (10 ) Stardust (12) 1. Terry Turner 1. Jerry Allard 2. Bart Madison 2. Jordan Allard 3. Bruce Cromoga 3. Dave Allard 4. Clint Sullivan 4. Nicole Allard 5. Ron Gschwend 5. Crystal Bartlett 6. Mike McRae 6. Jesse Bartlett 7. Charlie Williams 7. Clarence Armstrong 8. Steve Harvey 8. Mike Stevenson 9. Jim Wilcox 9. David Trial 10. Bill Hiblar 10. Malcom Trial 11. Paul Sparks 12. Morgan Sparks Salmon fishing, Westport by Jim Wilcox This date has been changed! Thirteen spaces are available for Olympia TU members and our guests September 1st on Slammer (Deep Sea Charters). We ll fish for coho and chinook salmon. The coho tip the scales at about fifteen pounds while the chinook are in the mid twenty s. Call now to make your reservations (800) if you want to get in on this late summer action with one of Westport s top owner / operators. The cost of this trip is $115 per person. You ll need to have a saltwater license with a salmon stamp. These are available at the Charter office the morning of the trip. Barrier Free Fishing Week At Cole s Pond Though the January 2009 flood made a mess of Cole s Pond, with your help we can clean it up and conduct the chapter s barrier free fishing the first week of June. We did it after the December 2007 flood and we can do it again! First we need a clean up crew for a work party. That will occur on a weekend and will be scheduled once things dry out. Second is a setup effort that will occur on Saturday, May 30. Third is providing assistance for the folks who will be fishing each day on June 1 through June 4 if you can help on only one of those days, that is fine. And fourth is pond draining and cleaning of remaining fish for delivery to Thurston County Food Bank which will be at the end of June (tentatively the 24 th ). So plan to put one or more of these activities on your calendar and let me know what you will do. My is rholtcamp@comcast.net, phone in Olympia. Executive Board Meeting Olympia Chapter of TU May 6, 2009 Special Executive Board Meeting to elect Threeyear Director Call to order: Jim 7:00 I Three-year Director election: Joe Durham Approved Unanimously 7:12 Adjourn Regular Executive Board Meeting Call to order: Jim 7:12 I Distribute attendance sheet, activity sign-up sheets II Changes to the agenda: None III April Executive Board minutes (discussion, approval): Ron H. Approved unanimously following two minor typo corrections IV Treasurer s Report (Presentation, Discussion and Approval): Ron H Approved unanimously V Chapter Consolidation: Jim W 6

7 Approved Chapter 189 consolidation (7 Y, 4 N, 1 A) with: Pacific County Chapter Mount St. Helens Chapter Chapter name selection Considerable discussion involving most of the Board members and two guests. It was moved to set aside the action of April 22nd regarding the Chapter name change. A friendly motion was made to ask the general body to have an item on their agenda about the circumstances and process of the previous meeting. They could decide whether to let the vote stand and move on, or vote to further consider the issue and take any other motions for a course of action if they choose. VI Committee Reports: WCTU Support: Jim W Participated in monthly WCTU conference calls (open to all members): WCTU Officers Conservation Committee Chapter Presidents We need to focus our efforts to sell WCTU raffle tickets Environmental Action: 716 Plum Street Olympia, WA (360) BOAT RV/AUTO & MINI STORAGE LOW, LOW RATES CALL GREG (360)

8 Salmon Habitat Projects Conference follow-up: Terry T Positive experience with many organizations attending Chapter and Council display boards via static display Nisqually River Council: Terry T Invited NRC to present Watershed Stewardship Plan during October membership meeting South Sound GREEN: Ron H Positive experience Murray Creek: Ron H Will walk the project with Camp Murray representative Recommended that TU work with Ft. Lewis representative regarding headwaters and beaver dam. Partnering with South Sound Fly Fishers: Jim B Open ended relationship Fellowships: Jim W Chapter Picnic and Kids Fish-in at Cole Pond: Kim M June 7 (Potluck with fewer fish to help balance Chapter budget) Summer picnic at Friends Landing: Jim W. August 22 Joe Durham offered to supply grill Late Summer Westport salmon charter trip: Jim W September 1 Public Relations: Jim W Public Service Announcements: Jim The Olympian, KGY AM/FM, MIXX 96.1, The Olympian, Let s go Fishing American Lake VA Hospital Fishing Program: Ron H Start 5/13/09 Project Healing Waters: Dwight MOU Signed by Project Healing Waters Chapter Fundraising: Lacey Rotary/Olympia TU Duck Dash: Kim Newsletter ads: Bill Will address as a Board during June meeting Ad billing to be sent in September Grants: Tom S. Embrace A Stream grant process underway: Murray Creek South Sound GREEN NW Youth Conservation Academy Chapter Members Only Raffle: Jim W Tickets available for $5.00 each Limit of 100 tickets per raffle Motion approved to permit tickets to be sold during WCTU Spring meeting (maximum of 25 tickets) 9:45 Meeting Adjourned Minutes subject to review and correction by Board. Public invited to propose rule changes for recreational fisheries OLYMPIA - People with ideas on how to improve the state's sport fishing rules can submit their proposals to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) through June 1. Proposals will be evaluated by fishery managers as they develop potential changes to the sport fishing rules. The proposed changes will be available for public review and comment in early September. The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission, which sets policy for WDFW, is scheduled to be briefed on the rule proposals at its Oct. 2-3 public meeting in Olympia. The final opportunity for written and oral public comment on the proposed sport fishing rules will be during the commission's Nov. 6-7 public meeting in Olympia. Information about the sport fishing rule change process and forms needed to submit proposals are available at ( A rule-change packet also can be requested by calling Proposals must be received by June 1 to be considered in this process. The website and rule change packet both include a timeline for rule adoption, a proposal form with instructions, and information about standard seasons and other season-setting processes, such as the annual North of Falcon salmon season forum. Working Snake River Project by Jim Wilcox The Olympia Chapter of Trout Unlimited will sponsor Working Snake River Project Tuesday, June 16 at The Knights of Columbus Hall (6794 Martin Way E, Lacey). The doors for this free presentation will open to the public at 6:30 PM with the very informative discussion and video by Jerry White (Save Our Wild Salmon) beginning at 7:00 PM. 8

9 The Working Snake River Project reaches out to busi - nesses, sportsmen, farmers, conservationists and citizens committed to restoring eastern Washington's lower Snake River corridor and endangered wild salmon by replacing four aging and costly dams with modern transportation and clean energy alternatives. Removing the four lower Snake River dams will restore more than 60 rapids and 30,000 acres of parklands, wildlife habitat and public access. Increased fishing, tourism and recreation along with transportation and energy investments will provide jobs, improve quality of life and expand local and regional economic opportunities. Additional information regarding Working Snake River Project is available online at Plastic Peril on the Wynoochee During last winter s flood, hundreds of square yards of plastic wrapping invaded the lower 15 miles of the Wynoochee River. The wrapping had been on hay rolls and was thought to be secure. However, the unusual volume of rain raised the river level far more than expected. Churning, twisting, and tumbling, the plastic wrap shredded into tens of thousands of pieces. When the water subsided, plastic pieces were spread across the entire width of the flood plain, catching on brush, root wads, and even being partially buried in gravel. Aside from the visual impact, the plastic poses danger to wildlife and habitat, especially as the pieces continue to fragment. Curt Holt, fish biologist at the WDFW Montesano office, brought this to the attention of the Olympia Chapter at its March meeting. Though work parties were being set up for each weekend in April, Ron Holtcamp, Jerry Allard, and Lee Dudley opted to go out on April 2. Using Lee s boat, the crew launched at Black Creek and went up to the diversion dam to begin their cleanup effort. Focusing on the left bank, it took nearly 6 hours (18 man hours) to remove the plastic and a few other odds and ends of trash from just 300 lineal yards of river gravel bar. Some pieces were short strips, others had folded over a couple of times enclosing mud and sand inside, and still others twisted into the visual appearance of rope. The day s collection filled Lee s boat, not only with the plastic, but also mud, sand, sticks, etc. At the end of the day, the material was taken to the Montesano office and the extent of the effort reported to Curt. In a subsequent , Curt said I am thanking you folks for your dedicated time and resources. My survey crews original estimates indicated 3,000 plastic pieces when the surveyed from the source area down to Black Cr. boat launch (RM 14.1 to 5.6). Unfortunate, as your team experienced, this did not include the debris 100' inland and the huge buried pieces... were now talking clean-ups of 100's yards or 1-2 gravel bars per day vs. miles... so this project is far greater than estimated... Please express to your team the greatest of gratitude for their efforts. The downstream landowners, future fishers, and the fish I am sure thank you as well. "How does one eat a 20 foot salami? Impossible for one person... but possible if one consumes just one slice at a time" So thanks for taking a bite out of this project... and there's plenty more if one's heart desires... Anyone wishing to help, by boat or by foot, can contact Curt Holt at the Montesano Office , or by holtclh@dfw.wa.gov 2005 Testimony to the Bonneville Power Administration by Bob Vadas, Jr. (bobesan@comcast.net), Past Editor The following is adapted from BPA testimony that Save Our Wild Salmon (SOS), former Chapter member Alex Uber, and I provided at a Tacoma hearing a few years ago. Our concern 9

10 was BPA s claim (to quote SOS) that salmon recovery and the spill-injunction request are creating uncertainty and raising costs, which had implications for its budget. Although the hearing was in 2005, our concerns about BPA cutting its salmon and steelhead funding is still an issue, given that the latest Columbia and Snake River (CASR) Biological Opinion (BiOp) from the past Bush Administration is back in court for not being fish-friendly. Because of poor advertising by BPA, few people attended the hearing, such that it was fairly short as at past BPA hearings. But these hearings are worth attending because they typically get media attention. The recent federal election has made several political changes for the better (see My Testimony As it sets its new rates, BPA and its customers need to clearly acknowledge their commitment to fund and restore fish populations imperiled by the CASR hydrosystem. As you know, the Northwest Power Act requires equitable treatment of fish and power. With the numerous extirpations that have already occurred, populations are currently threatened or endangered and wild adult salmon are returning at only ~1% of their historic levels, such that Pacific salmonids are not getting the protections that they desperately need. Salmon runs are not recovering; they are not OK. Without leadership from BPA and others in the region, many more runs could be extirpated. Although BPA has been under tremendous pressure to reduce rates, there s no fat to cut from the salmon program. Even though BPA s investments in salmon recovery are a minor contributor to overall rates, that seems to be where BPA and its customers look first for budget cuts. This is wrong; cutting funds necessary to restore salmon is not an option because it violates federal laws like the Endangered Species Act. BPA needs to live up to its legal and ethical obligations to restore a healthy CASR fishery. There has also been a tremendous amount of uncertainty about salmon recovery, given several failed BiOp proposals by the Bush Administration that leave no legal plan in place. I d like to see decent dam spills again, given that those for of 2005 greatly benefited fall Chinook in the Columbia River. With so much uncertainty, and such an embarassing record of failure by the federal government, including BPA, I m here to say stop. BPA and other federal agencies need to live up to their obligations to recover our fisheries. Unfortunately, as a result of the past failures, salmon need more help, not less. Now is NOT the time to cut salmon spending. Instead, what salmon and our salmon economy need are smart investments to fund scientifically supported actions that will actually recover healthy runs. So far, BPA has not made that commitment, but it needs to. We need to turn salmon declines into salmon recovery, and BPA needs to be part of the solution, not the problem. Fully fund effective salmon recovery, given the cumulative impacts that are causing run declines; don t blame the victim. Please become a leader in solving this Pacific Northwest (PNW) problem to benefit our fisheries economy and culture. Thank you. Alex s Testimony I am here to speak on behalf of affordable electricity and wild salmon and steelhead. In PNW, we need both, we should have both, and we can have both. Any suggestion that its either salmon or affordable energy is misleading and wrong. BPA s wholesale customers are clamoring for lower rates. Despite the fact that BPA has the lowest power rates in the country, it remains under intense pressure to reduce expenses further. Whatever BPA does, however, it should not lower its rates at the expense of doing its job and living up to its responsibilities and public purposes, including the recovery of threatened and endangered salmon and steelhead. Unfortunately, in the past, whenever BPA has buckled under pressure and lowered its rates, it has turned first to its salmon and renewable-energy programs. But both of these are essential elements of BPA s mission. They are not some type of voluntary expense account to draw from when revenues are down or other expenses are up. Plus, investing in these programs now saves money and protects consumers in the slightly longer term. Despite misleading claims today, BPA s salmon recovery costs are not a significant factor in the average household bill. In 2005, BPA budgeted $335 million for its total salmon program. Add the cost of court-ordered spill (which have helped salmon survival considerably) and setting aside the whole argument over BPA s concept of foregone revenue, you come up with $408 million in salmon expenses in For households that get all their energy from BPA, salmon expenses amounted to 6.8% of their total bill. For households that get less of their energy from BPA, salmon expenses raised monthly bills by 1.5-2%, around $1 per month. This is an amount of money PNW residents have repeatedly said they would pay for real salmon recovery. Many are willing to pay considerably more. During 2004, despite dire forecasts from BPA about higher rates as a result of the court-ordered summer spill, such rates were reduced by nearly 2%. As BPA sets new rates, it needs to provide full funding to meet its salmon recovery obligations under the law. Dwindling populations of salmon and steelhead are a clear and obvious warning that BPA has not yet met these obligations. SOS Testimony My name is Patrick Donovan. I currently live in Seattle, but was born in Idaho. Some of my earliest childhood memories are catching steelhead in ID rivers. These fish are very important to me and many, many people in the Pacific Northwest. I am here this evening to urge BPA as it sets its new rates to make a real commitment to live up to its obligations to protect and restore healthy CASR fisheries. BPA s salmon program 10

11 needs more money, not less. For years, it has been funded at levels below what is needed to recover endangered stocks. And BPA needs to direct its money at programs that are truly supported by the science. This will save money in the long run. In addition to communicating that BPA should fully fund its salmon program in , and not continue to view salmon and renewables for that matter as some type of reserve fund to draw from to cover expenses elsewhere, I would like to make three points. 1. BPA needs to stop blaming salmon for its inability to further lower rates or for the uncertainty in its rate-setting process. BPA s salmon expenses are anything but unforeseen. They have long been a part of doing business in the Columbia Basin. BPA has a legal obligation to protect our imperiled fisheries, and it has failed repeatedly to do so. Unfortunately, litigation and uncertainty rule the day, but that is not due to the salmon themselves nor the efforts of salmon and fishing advocates. It is due to the failure of the federal agencies including BPA to protect and restore salmon and steelhead as they are required to do. If it is going to reduce its rates, BPA needs to look at programs other than salmon and renewable energy. 2. The river does not belong to BPA. It is a resource for the entire region that generates energy, produces salmon, supplies farms with water, and provides countless other services. These uses need to be balanced, since currently, they are not. BPA and the utilities need to accept this and begin to advocate for scientifically sound recovery programs that address the main cause of decline a lethal hydrosystem so that we can start to show some signs of progress for all the money that we are spending. 3. Finally, salmon mean business in the Northwest. BPA has a blind spot when it comes to acknowledging that many individual livelihoods, businesses, and local economies depend on healthy, harvestable fisheries that originate in CASR. As recently as 2001, salmon-related activities including recreational, tribal, and commercial fisheries in WA generated $1 billion a year. An ID study recently concluded that restoring its fisheries to 1950s levels not historic levels would generate more than $500 million dollars in that state each year. It would mean even more for the states of WA and OR. Healthy runs of salmon can be real economic development, often for rural communities on the coast and along the river. BPA should acknowledge these salmon-reliant communities, and work to address the adverse impacts to them. Chapters Activities during the past month Right are several photos from TU sponsored fishing events this past couple of weeks (Lacey Family Fish-In on Long's Pond and Elma Game Club Fishing Derby at Vance Creek Park in Elma) T H E F I S H I N G L I N E 11

12 !e F"hing Line Olympia Chapter of Trout Unlimited PO Box 7708 Olympia, WA Hal Michael and Bob Vadas (WDFW Biologists) Coastal Cutthroat Trout Biology and Ecology Next Meeting May 27 th,liars' Drift at 6:30 pm, Meeting at 7:00 pm Casa Mia Restaurant 716 Plum Street Olympia, WA TROUT UNLIMITED - OLYMPIA CHAPTER #189 APPLICATION FORM Yes, I believe in the goals and objectives of Trout Unlimited, a national organization, and wish to be enrolled as a member. Enclosed please find $ Name Occupation Address Phone # City/State/Zip Please check membership category Regular Membership ($35) - 3 years ($90) Individual Life Membership ($1000) Student (under 18) Membership ($20) Family Life Membership ($1100) Senior (62 and over) Membership ($20) Sponsoring Contributor ($100) Family Membership ($50) - 3 years ($100) Conservator Membership ($250) Mail application to: TROUT UNLIMITED PO Box 7400 Wolly Bugger, WV Please Indicate: New Renewal Check Enclosed VISA or Mastercard (please circle) # Expiration Date Sponsor $5 of dues is for subscription to Trout magazine. All contributions over $12 are tax-deductible. Make checks payable to Trout Unlimited 12