Programs
Conserving Wild Salmon on Oregon's North CoastNews & Program Updates
February, 2008
In testimony before the Oregon Board of Forestry, Wild Salmon Center staff made the case for keeping Wild Salmon Anchor Habitat areas in northwest Oregon's state forests. Salmon Anchor Habitat Areas on state lands are due to expire in 2011, leaving wild salmon strongholds vulnerable to increased logging and road building. Using data gathered in collaboration with the OR Dept of Forestry and OR Dept of Fish and Wildlife, Wild Salmon Center staff presented GIS mapping data documenting current watershed conditions and wild salmon populations in the Tillamook and Clatsop State Forests.
Wild Salmon Center made the following policy recommendations to extend and enhance the current Salmon Anchor Habitat Strategy for the Tillamook and Clatsop State Forests:
Wild Salmon Center's Tom Miewald and Bob Van Dyk testify before the Oregon Board of Forestry
- Do not allow the current Salmon Anchor Habitat designations to expire
- Adopt a 20-year planning horizon for wild salmon and anchor habitats
- Add specific key watersheds to the Salmon Anchor Habitat system
- Revisit riparian protection strategies and logging guidelines to ensure protection of salmon habitat while allowing for multiple uses
- Aggressively reduce harms from known problems (e.g. road improvements and/or removal)
- Identify and protect micro-anchor areas at the reach-scale across the landscape
- Make salmon protection the highest priority in a subset of anchor habitats in the Miami, Kilchis, Little North Fork Wilson, Salmonberry River watersheds