[env-trinity] Commerce Declares State of Emergency Re: Salmon

Thu Aug 10 16:06:37 PDT 2006

The Oregon State University also has a "live" climatic service that has
"PRISM" Maps located on the top right hand of the webpage that you may
also find interesting (Tom & I like to check this site out daily). The
webpage is found here: http://www.ocs.oregonstate.edu/index.html 

Joshua Allen

Assistant Planner

Trinity County Planning Department

Natural Resources Division

PO Box 2819

Weaverville, CA 96093

(530)623-1351 ext. 3411

(530)623-1353 fax

jallen at trinitycounty.org <mailto:jallen at trinitycounty.org> 

________________________________

From: env-trinity-bounces at velocipede.dcn.davis.ca.us
[mailto:env-trinity-bounces at velocipede.dcn.davis.ca.us] On Behalf Of
Guillen, George J.
Sent: Thursday, August 10, 2006 3:50 PM
To: Seth Naman; FOTR List; Trinity List Server
Subject: Re: [env-trinity] Commerce Declares State of Emergency Re:
Salmon
Importance: High

Those interested in the "official" drought ranking per week, year etc.
should consult this web page.  It utilizes the Palmer Drought Index for
each week of the year nationally.  It is put out by Mr. Guitterez's
agency.

http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/monitoring_and_data/drought.shtml

A quick non-comprehensive review will show the following:

2002 - probably yes

2003 - moderate

2004 - yes

2005 - probably not

2005 - moderate

George Guillen

________________________________

From: env-trinity-bounces at velocipede.dcn.davis.ca.us on behalf of Seth
Naman
Sent: Thu 8/10/2006 5:04 PM
To: 'FOTR List'; 'Trinity List Server'
Subject: Re: [env-trinity] Commerce Declares State of Emergency Re:
Salmon

Is there anybody out there that can comment on the "lengthy 5-year
drought in the Klamath Basin [that] has led to significantly reduced
precipitation and streamflows in the basin"? I'm uncertain if this
statement is technically correct or not.

Seth

________________________________

From: env-trinity-bounces at velocipede.dcn.davis.ca.us
[mailto:env-trinity-bounces at velocipede.dcn.davis.ca.us] On Behalf Of
Byron 
Sent: Thursday, August 10, 2006 2:54 PM
To: FOTR List; Trinity List Server
Subject: [env-trinity] Commerce Declares State of Emergency Re: Salmon

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
Thursday, August 10, 2006

Commerce Department Declares Commercial Fishery Failure for Coastal
Oregon and California

WASHINGTON, DC -Secretary of Commerce Carlos M. Gutierrez today declared
a commercial fishery failure has occurred for West Coast salmon
fishermen this season from Cape Falcon, Oregon, to Point Sur,
California, due to low numbers of fish caused primarily by the drought.
The Commerce Department's National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA) oversees the nation's oceans based fishing
industry and fisheries resources.

The commercial fishery failure is being declared as a result of the
information gathered by Commerce officials this season. The findings
showed a significant economic impact resulting from limited opportunity
to catch salmon due to the low number of fall Chinook salmon projected
to return to the Klamath River in northern California to spawn. 

"The evidence is clear -- our fishing communities have been
significantly impacted," said Gutierrez. "We have moved quickly to
gather the necessary facts in order to make this declaration and we will
continue to work closely with the communities and their elected
leaders."

Today's decision answers requests from Oregon and California Governors,
Members of Congress and affected communities. Secretary Gutierrez led
the Department's efforts in expediting the declaration process which was
originally expected to take until February 2007. Gutierrez dispatched
Commerce officials to the region who consulted closely with state and
local officials to collect the data necessary for determining a fishery
failure declaration.

Deputy Secretary David Sampson, who was in Portland and Coos Bay,
Oregon, to personally deliver the announcement to affected communities
added, "We stand by the commercial fishing industry and will do what we
can to help them through this difficult time. We heard their calls and
acted quickly."

A determination of whether a fishery failure occurred is made on a
case-by-case basis taking into account a number of economic factors
including overall revenue from caught fish, number of fishermen, degree
of dependence on alternative fishing opportunities, documented decline
in the fishery resource and other environmental data.

A commercial fishery failure triggers authorities to respond to the
economic impact of the failure and to promote the recovery of the
resource. The fishery failure determination follows a decision last
month by Gutierrez to declare a fishery resource disaster, making Small
Business Administration (SBA) loans available. Since the Secretary's
resource disaster declaration on July 6, SBA has begun receiving
applications and has already approved nearly $200,000 in loans.
Gutierrez also directed that the Commerce Department's Economic
Development Administration (EDA) make fishery impacted communities a
funding priority for FY'07 Economic Adjustment grants. Additionally,
Gutierrez requested that the Governors of Oregon and California closely
review their pending 2006 Pacific Coast Salmon Recovery Fund grant
applications and determine how to best channel existing resources and
speedily disburse monies to programs that can help effected fishermen.

Background/Historical Context:

A lengthy 5-year drought in the Klamath Basin has led to significantly
reduced precipitation and streamflows in the basin. These conditions
have degraded important spawning habitat, increased infestation of
harmful parasites, and thus have not provided the conditions necessary
for healthy salmon populations.

The Magnuson-Stevens Act (MSA) defines the criteria for determining a
commercial fishery failure. The Secretary may declare a commercial
fishery failure due to a fishery resource disaster as a result of
natural causes; man-made causes beyond the control of fishery managers
to mitigate through conservation and management measures; or
undetermined causes.

The Department of Commerce, through the NOAA Fisheries Service, is
responsible for protecting and preserving our nation's living marine
resources and their habitats through scientific research, management and
enforcement. NOAA Fisheries Service provides effective stewardship of
these resources for the benefit of the nation, supporting coastal
communities that depend upon them, and helping to provide safe and
healthy seafood to consumers and recreational opportunities for the
American public.

Andrea Purse

Press Secretary

Radio Booker, Democratic Policy Committee

Office of Representative George Miller

2205 Rayburn HOB

202-225-7387 (direct)

202-680-8816 (cell)

andrea.purse at mail.house.gov

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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