Crapo Pushes for Salmon Funding

CRAPO PUSHES FOR SALMON FUNDING

Funding for the Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund (PCSRF) is imperative to protecting and restoring salmon and steelhead populations in the Pacific Northwest said Idaho Senator Mike Crapo, along with seven other senators. The members wrote to the Senate Appropriations Committee to push for the inclusion of the funding in the Fiscal Year 2006 Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations bill.

Through the PCSRF, more than 1,800 habitat restoration projects and 1,100 planning and assessment projects have been funded. Previous funding has allowed states--Idaho, Washington, Oregon, California, and Alaska—to establish habitat restoration programs to advance fish recovery while promoting local and regional stewardship between landowners and governments. Specific to Idaho, funding of $4.5 million will aid restoration of coastal salmon spawning habitats, as well as other PCSRF-related projects.

"State leadership is necessary to recovering salmon and this funding is the best way for state and federal government agencies along with landowners to progress on salmon recovery," Crapo said. "The Fund is essential to continuing the restoration of salmon habitats. I'm proud of Idaho's salmon habitat work and I'm pleased my Senate colleagues have joined me in support of this effort."

The Senate-passed Fiscal Year 2006 Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations bill calls for PCSRF funding at $90 million, while the House-passed version calls for $50 million. The bill is currently in a conference committee to settle differences between the Senate-passed and House-passed measures.

http://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/release_full.cfm?id=247276&&