Salmon-recovery funds restored to Senate bill

A long-standing fund used to underwrite local fish recovery projects has been restored in a federal spending bill.

U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., wrangled $80 million for the Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund in the 2010 Senate spending bill. The fund had been zeroed out in the House of Representatives’ version of the bill.

“When it comes to salmon recovery, ignoring the specific needs of the Northwest is unacceptable,” Murray said in a prepared statement.

The fund was established nine years ago to address the Endangered Species Act listings of 26 stocks of imperiled seagoing salmon and steelhead on the West Coast. The fund is relatively small compared with the overall federal commitment to salmon recovery, but it’s highly prized by local fish recovery organizations because it directly underwrites in-stream work.

Murray used her influence as a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

“This funding will not only protect salmon habitat and restore fish populations, it protects critical employment opportunities for hundreds of Washingtonians,” Gov. Chris Gregoire said in a prepared statement.

The fund has benefited road decommissioning, revegetation efforts and fish passage improvements in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Alaska, California and Nevada.