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

Fri Aug 11 10:31:29 PDT 2006

Yes, it would be good to remember that when planting and irrigating
crops that need more water than is naturally available and adjust
appropriately.  Good reminder.

Kevin McKernan

Director, Yurok Tribe Environmental Program

P.O. Box 1027

Klamath, CA 95548

(707) 482-1350 xt. 355

  _____  

From: Stephanie Carpenter [mailto:windhorse at jeffnet.org] 
Sent: Thursday, August 10, 2006 5:58 PM
To: Seth Naman; 'FOTR List'; 'Trinity List Server'
Subject: Re: [env-trinity] Commerce Declares State of Emergency Re:
Salmon

Greetings,

The Upper Klamath Basin Working Group was conviened 10 years ago by
Senator Hatfield to work on drought issues.  We're still at it.  It's
good to remember that much of the Upper Basin catchment of the river has
it's origins in the high desert, with associated precipitation levels.

Jim

Carpenter Design, Inc.
Project Coordination

Commercial, Residential & Environmental 

CCB 93939

www.CarpenterDesign.com <http://www.carpenterdesign.com/> 

541-885-5450

	-----Original Message-----
	From: env-trinity-bounces at velocipede.dcn.davis.ca.us
[mailto:env-trinity-bounces at velocipede.dcn.davis.ca.us]On Behalf Of Seth
Naman
	Sent: Thursday, August 10, 2006 3:05 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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