Coastal Agriculture Pitches In On Coho Conservation Plan
News Date March 05, 2007
Farmers along the Oregon Coast are stepping to the plate and taking measures to improve fish habitat. The Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) is doing what it can to help them be successful. With the development of a State of Oregon conservation plan for coastal coho salmon , the combined energy of agencies and landowners will be needed to restore fish to sustainable levels. ODA and the agriculture industry continue to believe voluntary efforts will be the most effective way to achieve positive results.
"The Oregon Coast Coho Conservation Plan is a monumental multi-agency effort," says Oregon Agriculture Director Katy Coba. "Agriculture's willingness to be proactive in addressing the issues is precedent-setting. If successful, what is done on the coast will be used in other basins around the state where fish populations need to be restored."
The ultimate goal is to create a healthy, sustainable environment, economy, and coastal community through a plan that will build up the coho salmon population. Agriculture has been a consistent partner in dealing with these types of issues through its participation in the larger Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds. Through ODA regulatory programs like Senate Bill 1010--which establishes agricultural water quality management plans and rules--and the Confined Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) Program, management practices and projects have taken place to protect and improve water quality throughout the state, not just the coast. Enabling voluntary efforts by coastal farmers and other private landowners will hopefully bring even more positive results and keep the coho salmon from being listed as a threatened or endangered species by the federal government.
"It's important for agriculture to look for opportunities to manage its land, both in the interest of agriculture and in trying to help the coho," says Ray Jaindl, administrator of ODA's Natural Resources Division . "ODA plans on being a facilitator and an advocate for the industry."
ODA has hired Karla Kay Edwards to work with agriculture to see what can be done proactively to further diminish the possibility of coho being listed in the future.
Steps taken by agriculture to address water quality issues include providing better streambank stability by planting streamside vegetation, which controls erosion and also keeps water cool. By making vegetative improvements, the farm operators are also improving habitat for fish. ODA and the agriculture industry in general are committed to being proactive in looking for other opportunities to improve fish habitat.
Soil and water conservation districts partner with ODA to play a big role in providing the hands-on technical expertise to help landowners with specific projects. ODA will advocate for a higher level of funding and support to SWCDs, watershed councils, local conservation groups, and directly to landowners in order to promote successful results. ODA, through Edwards, will carry back specific needs and concerns from the agriculture community to other natural resource agencies that are involved in the coho conservation plan. Landowner outreach and education will also be a cornerstone of ODA's part of the plan. The emphasis, however, will continue to be on voluntary cooperation. (Contact: Karla Kay Edwards, 503/986-4715)