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TODAY - Special opportunity to increase California share of NOAA restoration fun
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tra-@asje.org
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Jun 04, 2007 13:17 PDT
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From: "Thomas J. Weseloh"
<calt-@sbcglobal.net>
Hi Folks:
We have a very special opportunity to increase the
share of fisheries restoration funding available to the DFG Fisheries
Restoration Grants Program via NOAA's Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund.
All of you are included because you have shown an
interest in these funds and/or been a recipient of these funds.
In short, there is $66 million available for the
western states (AK, WA, OR, ID, CA) that will be distributed to the states on a
competitive basis. California has submitted a proposal application for $25.5
million. Last year CA only received $6.4 million and due to this level of
funding many good projects did not receive funding.
If we want to increase our chances at securing
additional funds thus allowing for more individual projects to be funded WE NEED
YOUR SUPPORT FOR CALIFORNIA'S APPLICATION!
Letters from you (organizations, elected officials
and individuals) are critical to show support for obtaining additional funding.
Letters need to be postmarked by Monday June 4, 2007.
A sample letter is attached. Please personalize it
as much as possible. [BELOW, NOT ATTACHED]
If you do not act, DON'T COMPLAIN WHEN THERE IS A
LACK OF FUNDING FOR GOOD PROJECTS!
Please act now. Send
your letter and fax a copy to DFG (the number is on the draft).
Sincerely,
Tom
P.S. I apologize for any cross
postings.
Thomas J. Weseloh
Northcoast Manager, California
Trout
1976 Archer Rd.
McKinleyville, CA 95519
707 839-1056 phone
707
839-1054 fax
www.caltrout.org
Date
To: Dr. William
Hogarth, Director
National Marine Fisheries Service
NOAA
1315 East West Highway
Silver Spring, MD
20910
Attn: JoAnna Grable
FAX: (301)
713-1940
RE: Support for expanded Pacific Coast
Salmon Recovery Funding for California
I am writing to
express my support of the application for Pacific Coast Salmon Recovery
Funding (PCSRF) for the California Department of Fish and Game (DFG). Population levels of Chinook salmon, coho
salmon, and steelhead in several of California’s coastal watersheds have
experienced dramatic declines in abundance and/or distribution and are now
covered under listings by either or both the California Endangered Species Act
(CESA) and the Federal Endangered Species Act (ESA). The
decline in salmon and steelhead populations has been largely attributed to
stream habitat degradation and impacts to the watersheds caused by natural
events and human disturbance. The
restoration of these habitats and subsequent recovery of these listed species
is critical to the socioeconomic interests of our state and the intrinsic value
of these species.
A massive restoration effort is needed on the coastal watersheds and
streams of California. Restoring and maintaining high quality
fisheries habitat is vital in conserving and protecting salmonid
populations. Before the coastal
watersheds of California
were damaged, quality fish habitat provided large and healthier populations of
Chinook and coho salmon and steelhead trout, of tremendous economic value to
the State.
Since 1981, the DFG Fisheries Restoration Grants Program
(FRGP) has engaged in a collaborative effort with NOAA Fisheries and more than
600 stakeholders to restore declining salmon and anadromous trout habitat. Over the last 25 years, the Department has invested
over $180 million and supported approximately 2,700 salmonid restoration
projects. Projects that address limiting
factors associated with the decline in anadromous fish populations are given top priority for FRGP
funding.
The Department
relies on several guiding documents for restoring coastal anadromous fish. These documents include the Coho Recovery
Strategy, the Steelhead Restoration and Management Plan, and the Coastal
Salmonid Restoration Manual. Since 2000, the PCSRF has contributed
approximately $87 million to this effort.
Of the $66 million PCSRF funding available last year, California received less than 10%. California’s
commitment to enhancing coastal salmonid populations was evident in FY
2006-2007 by providing approximately $16 million toward coastal salmonid
restoration.
Considering the extent and range of anadromous salmonids in
coastal California,
and the number of population units listed under the CESA and/or ESA, we
encourage the National Marine Fisheries Service to increase California’s PCSRF funding for FY 2007-2008.
The magnitude of the socioeconomic effects of quality
restoration projects in California
is unsurpassed, and I strongly urge the Service to support the California
Department of Fish and Game application for PCSRF funding.
Sincerely,
CC: Barry Thom
NOAA NMFS
1201 NE Lloyd
Blvd, suite 1100
Portland,
OR 97232
Neil Manji
Fisheries Branch Chief
Department of Fish and Game
830 S Street
Sacramento,
CA 95814
fax (916) 327-8854
Tracy Katelman
Executive Director
Alliance for Sustainable Jobs and the Environment
POB 1361, Eureka, CA 95502
Office: 840 E Street, Suite 5, Eureka Labor Temple
Phone/FAX: 707-498-4481
Mobile: 707-845-8579
tra-@asje.org
www.asje.org
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