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What you can do for salmon | Resources & background information Salmon Information Center (external link) Home & garden tips
Q: What is the Endangered Species Act (ESA)?
A: The ESA is a federal law that requires the protection and recovery of endangered species through scientifically based recovery planning and implementation. Once a species is "listed" as either threatened or endangered, any actions that might harm the species itself or its habitat are restricted and efforts are required to try to recover the species to sustainable levels.
Q: Why is the federal government about to list the salmon as threatened?
A: Wild Pacific salmon populations have been declining for decades. Numerous distinct runs of these fish are now considered to be threatened or endangered. Some Columbia River runs have already been listed under ESA, and the Puget Sound Chinook Salmon is about to be proposed for listing under the ESA.
Q: What does it mean to King County?
A: Listing of the Chinook salmon as threatened under the ESA could potentially impact an enormous number of county programs that deal with land use and development, residential and commercial construction, roads, agriculture and forestry, as well as many ongoing activities that the county performs or regulates.
Most King County regulatory, inspection and enforcement, land acquisition, landowner incentive, technical assistance, education, maintenance construction and engineering programs would be affected by a listing.
Q: What is the county going to do about the listing?
A: We are already working with the federal National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), the state, neighboring counties and their largest cities, the Cascade Water Alliance, DOE and the governor's office.
Q: What will King County's response be?
A: Any decision must reflect the Puget Sound region's environmental system as a whole, not just areas within jurisdictional boundaries. We will be discussing potential responses with all of our stakeholders.
Q: What happens if King County does nothing?
A: Any action that could involve a "taking" of salmon, including its habitat – any project that requires federal permitting, such as levees, roads, major development, etc. – public and private – would require special approval and mitigation on a case by case basis, as determined by the federal government. This would be costly and time consuming.
Q: This is the first time in this state a species has been listed in an urban area? What does this mean?
A: It means we must do all we can to balance growth, the environment and our vibrant economic picture in crafting any response. That is why our conversations include not just the governments, but the citizens, business, timber and agriculture communities, Tribes, etc. We will look at communities in other states that have dealt with urban listings as we plan our response.
Q: How has King County proactively planned?
A: Several programs are currently in place that will address this issue.
Q: Is this the only species that will be listed? What if there are more?
A: We are planning to approach this in a way that will protect not only Chinook salmon, but also any other species that may be included in possible future listings. We call that a multi-species conservation plan. The lesson learned from the spotted owl controversy is that it is far better to voluntarily move to protect species than to allow federal agencies and courts to dictate the management of endangered species, and we plan to take charge locally to direct our own destiny.
Q: Is this going to be like the spotted owl listing?
A: No. That is not a good example. The issues there were not driven by an ESA listing by the National Forest Management Act.
Updated: Feb. 5, 1998
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