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July 26th, 2005

COMMISSIONERS REQUEST OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC REVIEW AND COMMENT ON SKAGIT CHINOOK RECOVERY PLAN CHAPTER OF PUGET SOUND SALMON PLAN

SKAGIT COUNTY – The Skagit County Board of Commissioners submitted letters today to Governor Christine Gregoire and NOAA Fisheries, expressing concerns about the draft Puget Sound Salmon Recovery Plan prepared under the direction of Shared Strategy for Puget Sound and requested an opportunity for public review and comment. The “Skagit Chinook Recovery Plan Chapter” was authored by Skagit Systems Cooperative, representing the Swinomish and Sauk Suiattle Tribes, and the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife.

While lauding the efforts of Shared Strategy for Puget Sound, the Commissioners claim that they were told that Skagit County and other stakeholders would have an opportunity to review the plan before it was issued.

In the letter to Gregoire, the commissioners stated, “Unfortunately, the inclusive and collaborative process required by the salmon recovery statute, RCW 77.85, championed by Shared Strategy, and enjoyed in most Puget Sound watersheds did not occur in the Skagit watershed.”

The Commissioners requested that Gregoire assist them in finding a way to provide the residents of Skagit County and other interested parties a chance to participate in the Skagit Plan in a meaningful way. “For those in the Skagit community interested in the Skagit Chinook Recovery Plan and its implementation, it is very disappointing that we were unable to contribute to the development of the Plan,” stated the Commissioners.

In a letter to Bob Lohn, Regional Fisheries Administrator, National Marine Fisheries Service Regional Administrator, the Commissioners stated, “In our opinion, there is one underlying flaw with the Plan that, unfortunately, undermines the analysis and recommendation contained throughout the document: The Plan was not offered for public review and comment prior to submittal to NOAA Fisheries.”

The Skagit County Commissioners stated that they appreciated the hard work of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and Skagit Systems Cooperative in writing the plan. “It is a good starting point for a thorough public, collaborative process to try to reconcile issues and concerns.”

For further information, contact: Dan Berentson
Communications Director
360-419-3461