[env-trinity] Eureka Times Standard January 10 2006

[Byron]

SALMON RUNS:

Sen. Chesbro introduces measure to permanently fund salmon restoration

Eureka Times-Standard - 1/10/06

 

SACRAMENTO -- Sen. Wesley Chesbro, D-Arcata, Monday introduced SB 1125,
which would permanently protect state funding for environmental programs
including salmon habitat restoration on the North Coast. 

 

"California's natural resources infrastructure must be a high priority
throughout the state," said Chesbro in a press release. "On the North Coast
the restoration of historic salmon and steelhead runs are critical for both
our economic and environmental well being. SB 1125 will lead the state to a
sustainable use of the revenue from leasing state resource leases in a way
that protects our marine and coastal environment." 

 

The measure would permanently establish the Resources Trust Fund (RTF),
which authorizes specified amounts of revenue generated by oil and gas
leases for environmental programs. These funds are received and deposited in
the state treasury by the State Lands Commission. 

 

Resources Trust Fund would be allocated among the Salmon and Steelhead Trout
Restoration Account, the Marine Life and Marine Reserve Management Account,
Fish and Game Fund, the State Parks System Deferred Maintenance Account, and
the Natural Resources Infrastructure Fund. It would annually allocate $12
million for the Salmon and Steelhead Restoration Program. 

 

Joining Chesbro in introducing SB 1125 was a statewide conservation group,
CalTrout. 

 

"SB 1125 needs to become law because of the economic and intrinsic value of
California's remaining native runs of wild salmon and steelhead trout, many
of which are listed as either 'threatened' or 'endangered' under the state
and federal endangered species acts," said Brian Stranko of CalTrout. 

 

"Salmon and steelhead trout support recreational and commercial fisheries
that provide thousands of jobs and are important to regional economies in
California." 

 

Stranko added, "CalTrout believes that the continuing escalation of world
oil prices is likely to continue and means that California is receiving
record amounts of revenue from its oil leases administered by the State
Lands Commission. We believe that California should continue to invest some
of this windfall in programs and projects benefiting the natural resources
and environment of the state. SB 1125 makes this possible." 

 

The legislation needs to be in print for 30 days and then will be assigned
to a policy committee for its first hearing in March. 

 

 

Byron Leydecker

Chair, Friends of Trinity River

Advisor, California Trout, Inc

PO Box 2327

Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327

415 383 4810 ph

415 383 9562 fx

bwl3 at comcast.net

bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org

http://www.fotr.org

http:www.caltrout.org 

 

 

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