Committee Supports Funds For Salmon Recovery In Idaho

WASHINGTON, DC â?? Idaho Senators Larry Craig and Mike Crapo announced today that the Senate Appropriations Committee supports Idaho receiving $5 million for salmon recovery through the Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund (PCSRF). The PCSRF was created in 1999 to meet obligations of the Pacific Salmon Treaty and recover threatened and endangered salmon stocks. Craig and Crapo have worked hard over the past several years to have Idaho added to this program. Current law includes Washington, Oregon, Alaska, California, and the Columbia River Treaty Tribes.â??It has never made sense for all of the salmon recovery funding to be washed downstream without adequately addressing and managing the upstream issues in our state that significantly affect salmon stocks in our waters,â?? said Senator Craig, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. â??This change to the law to recognize Idahoâ??s role needs to be passed by the Senate. This will be a positive step in Idahoâ??s efforts to build upon the record number of returning salmon we saw this year.â??â??The inclusion of Idaho in the Pacific Coastal Recovery Fund for the first time ever is a good initial step, and national recognition of our efforts will go far toward getting Idaho on par with our neighboring states regarding funding for anadromous fish recovery. That is important when you consider Idaho produces about half of the spring/summer Chinook and steelhead in the Columbia Basin,â?? Senator Crapo said. â??This has been a long, tough fight and it is great news for fishermen, water users, ranchers, and conservationists, but we need to get this Commerce appropriations bill passed and then continue to work to move Idaho's funding to a level on par with the other Northwest states in the fund.â??The bill will now go to the full Senate for approval. [30]