Coho clock is ticking

By Liz Bowen, Assistant Editor

SACRAMENTO - Nearly two weeks after the end-of-February deadline, the notice for the official listing of the coho salmon to the California Endangered Species Act showed up in the California Register on March 12.

The listing of the coho salmon is nearly complete, with the 45-day comment period now in mid-stream.

Anyone interested in commenting to the California Fish and Game Commission regarding the coho salmon must submit written statements before June 18. This is the last chance for anyone who is against and those who are for the listing, to provide information and comment to the state.

Verbal arguments will also be heard the day that the Commission will make its final determination regarding coho, which will be at the June 25 Commission meeting. It will be held at the Elk Valley Rancheria at 2500 Howland Hill Road in Crescent City.

For nearly two years the coho salmon has been in limbo, because of pressure applied by SOSS coalition (Save Our Shasta and Scott Valleys and Towns), Siskiyou County of California, timber groups, California Farm Bureau Federation and several other groups. The pressure stated that non-scientific data was used by groups that wanted the coho listed with the state Endangered Species Act and the California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) accepted that flawed data.

As a result, the Commission invoked a little-used Fish and Game code that directed the creation of a Recovery Strategy Plan by a team of individuals. The strategy plan took more than one year to develop.

SOSS, timber, Farm Bureau and other groups voiced opposition to the acceptance of the strategy plan at the Commission's Feb. 4 meeting in Sacramento, because agriculture did not have protection from regulations in place and timber regulations were extensive.

The Commission voted to accept the coho strategy plan anyway, thus starting the clock for the final decision on the listing.

Back on Aug. 30, 2002, the Commission voted 4-1 that the coho "warranted" listing, which started the entire process.

The strategy plan still holds no protection for agriculture water users, but local Resource Conservation Districts are working under-the-gun to develop an umbrella permit.

There are several ways to let your voice be heard on the coho salmon listing. To fax, the number is 916-653-5040.

Email is FGC@dfg.ca.gov.

Written comments should go to: Robert R. Treanor, executive director of California Fish and Game Commission, Box 944209, Sacramento, California 94244-2090.

All comments need to be signed by the writer or in emails, the writer's name and address included.