Sims recommends early actions to save salmon

King County Executive Ron Sims today proposed implementation of 17 projects to help restore troubled salmon runs at no new cost to taxpayers. Sims redirected $4.6 million in existing funds to start work on salmon restoration as the federal government moves toward listing the Puget Sound chinook salmon under the Endangered Species Act.

"These are actions we can take now while we work on a strong recovery plan that will protect our dwindling salmon runs," said Sims. "We can be confident these actions will be essential elements of whatever final plan we propose."

Earlier this month, Sims submitted a 1998 supplemental budget request for salmon recovery, as the listing under the Endangered Species Act was announced after the county's budget was approved last year. In that request, a redirection of $4.6 million for early implementation projects was listed. Sims announced at that time that proposals for funding under the early implementation umbrella would be reviewed by a citizens' panel prior to being forwarded to the King County Council for approval.

The citizens' panel, comprised of citizens, stakeholders, conservation organizations and a representative of the Muckleshoot Tribe, today issued its recommended projects. Included are purchases of land to protect critical fish habitat, restoration of damaged habitat and removal of barriers to fish migration on the proposed list of early implementation projects.

The criteria used by the panel included preserving existing high quality fish habitat using limited dollars; preserving, restoring or reconnecting fish habitat; leveraging matching funds; completing projects already started; and projects that were ready to be started.