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Department of Ecology News Release - November 26, 2001
01-193
SPOKANE - Gov. Gary Locke today awarded the Asotin County Conservation District with an Environmental Excellence Award for its extensive work to enhance water quality and fish habitat in the Asotin Creek watershed.
The governor presented the award, on behalf of the Department of Ecology, at the annual meeting of the Washington Association of Conservation Districts in Bellingham.
"One of my top priorities as governor has been to restore our state's streams and fish runs, but it takes on-the-ground commitment and action to bring about tangible improvements," Locke said. "The Asotin County Conservation District has made a real difference and deserves special recognition for its success."
Over the decades, farming and ranching activities had stripped vegetation, eroded soils and sent pollution into Asotin Creek, making it unhealthy for fish. Several species are now listed as threatened.
The Asotin Conservation District, working with local landowners and Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), designated Asotin Creek a "model watershed" in 1993. A watershed plan was completed to address land-use activities in the watershed that have affected water quality and fish habitat. The plan was the first of its kind to be funded in the state of Washington by BPA to deal with watershed protection.
The district has been successful at securing funding for landowners to make water quality and habitat improvements on their property. As a result, much of the original watershed plan has been implemented, resulting in lower pollution levels and higher returns of adult Snake River steelhead.
In 1992, scientists observed three steelhead in the main stem of the creek. In 2001, they observed 199.
"The district has worked hard to develop very strong relationships with the ranchers and farmers in the county," said Carl Nuechterlein of Ecology's water-quality program. "By working together, they've achieved many miles of major improvements along the creek sides."
Land owners have created nearly 15 miles of buffers along the sides of creeks and rivers throughout the watershed and four more miles of restoration work are underway. This work includes planting more than 100,000 trees and shrubs, fencing miles of stream to reduce damage from livestock, and providing off-stream water for livestock.
Contact: Jani Gilbert, public information manager, 509-456-4464; pager, 509-622-1289
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
