http://www.fedflyfishers.org/

http://www.sportsmansalliance4ak.org/

http://www.wildsalmon.org/

http://www.fedflyfishers.org/

Angling Publications - Index

Angling Publications - april2008 - Index

32
FEDERATION OF FLY FISHERS
Pete “Van” Gytenbeek
Salmon Need Help Across The West
There is a surreal mix
of excitement and dread as
the debate goes on about the
largest proposed copper-gold
mine slated for the wilds of
Bristol Bay, Alaska. Two efforts
are afoot that could protect the
greatest salmon populations
on earth—state legislation in
the form of HR 134, the Wild
Salmon Protection Act, and
two ballot initiatives called
Alaska Clean Water initiatives.
Alaska state legislators
have been mulling over HR
134 that states, “a person, in
relation to the five major river
systems of Bristol Bay, may
not withdraw, obstruct, divert,
inject, pollute, or pump
any subsurface or surface
water in drainages supporting
salmon.” Hearings in the
House in mid February resulted
in a standstill, and the
bill now sits in committee.
Conversely, 30,000 signatures
were collected in less than 60
days in an unprecedented effort
to place two Clean Water
initiatives on the Alaska state
ballot. The initiatives might
be the best way to protect the
salmon of Bristol Bay, as they
put decisions in the hands
of the people of Alaska. In
early March, however, a state
Superior Court judge ruled
that one of the two initiatives
designed to prevent large
metal-producing mines from
polluting salmon-spawning
waters was unconstitutional.
At the same time the judge
ruled that the second initiative—that
could refine state
laws regarding mining and
water quality—could appear
on the ballot. To learn more
and do something: Be sure to
catch the new film Equilibrium
by Castaway Films
– it is a nice blend of classic
Alaskan fly fishing and a plea
to join us in protecting these
irreplaceable salmon waters. If
you have not yet written a letter
to the Governor of Alaska,
we suggest you get writing.
For more details, please log
on to www.fedflyfishers.org
and the Sportsman’s Alliance
for Alaska website at
sportsmansalliance4ak.org
More than 3,000 miles
away, we have an opportunity
to restore what was once
the world’s greatest salmon
watershed. In the Lower 48,
Columbia and Snake River
salmon and steelhead are in
crisis largely from overzealous
dam building in the last
century. In 2007, just four
Snake River sockeye salmon
survived their journey from
the Pacific Ocean to their
ancestral spawning grounds
in Idaho’s Redfish Lake—an
upstream migration of more
than 900 miles and a climb of
over 6,500 feet! Just four fish.
Snake River coho salmon have
already disappeared. Snake
River sockeye are teetering
on the brink. The other
remaining Snake River salmon
populations—chinook and
steelhead—are federally recognized
endangered species.
In the wild, expansive and
roadless headwaters of central
Idaho and eastern Oregon,
the best remaining salmon
habitat in the lower 48 states
is blocked by four outdated
dams. A campaign to restore
140 miles of healthy, free-flowing
lower Snake River is one of
America’s greatest salmon and
river restoration projects ever.
This spring, a broad coalition
of organizations and businesses
are taking this campaign on
the road to Congress.
Starting this April, the
Federation of Fly Fishers is
sponsoring the Save Our Wild
Salmon National Road Show.
Traveling 10,000 miles from
Washington State to Washington,
DC, a 25-foot fiberglass
salmon named “Fin” will
visit with people at farmers
In 2007, just four Snake River
sockeye salmon completed their
spawning journey to Idaho.
markets, town centers, universities,
grade schools, and festivals
to raise awareness about
our nation’s Pacific salmon crisis
and help people be part of
the solution. You can help us
by delivering a strong message
to Congress: Act now, or we’ll
lose them forever! As anglers
and conservationists, we have
a responsibility to stand up
and call on Congress to ensure
that the federal government
crafts an effective recovery
plan that restores salmon and
steelhead to healthy and fishable
populations.
After nearly two decades
of failed federal efforts and
billions of misspent taxpayer
dollars, the wild Snake River
salmon teeter on the very
edge of extinction. The time
for action is now. For more
information on the salmon
of the Snake River, to get
involved in the National Road
Show, or to contact your
member of Congress, log on
to www.wildsalmon.org
Pete “Van” Gytenbeek
is the Executive Director of
the Federation of Fly Fishers.
Send Van your comments at
www.fedflyfishers.org