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Department of Ecology News Release - Aug. 27, 2003
03-172
SPOKANE - While landowners in Eastern Washington were being asked to help restore fish habitat along streams that run through their property, one piece of the puzzle was missing. Grant money was available to help with purchasing materials, but who would do the work?
That's where Washington Conservation Corps (WCC) crews came in. The crews have just completed another project, this time in Asotin County, installing 1,300 feet of fencing on extremely rough terrain. The project was designed to improve habitat and water quality on a rancher's property along Tenmile Creek, a tributary to the Snake River.
"In many cases, if it weren't for the WCC crew, this work would not get done," said Brad Johnson of the Asotin County Conservation District in Clarkston. "Many landowners have made a major commitment to improve water quality and fish habitat, but without this program they wouldn't be able to afford to hire the labor it would take."
Johnson said the Asotin project could go a long way toward saving Snake River steelhead trout populations, which have been listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.
With funding and supervision from the state Department of Ecology (Ecology) and conservation districts in Asotin, Garfield, Adams and Spokane counties, the Eastern Washington WCC crew has installed more than 40 miles of fencing this year and planted thousands of native plants along streams to restore the stream banks to a healthy condition.
Keeping livestock out of the water and away from the stream bank protects natural vegetation that keeps the water cool and provides habitat. It also slows bank erosion and keeps sediment, nutrients, pesticides and other pollutants out of the stream.
"These young crew members are playing a major role in bringing back crucial habitat for endangered fish species," said Chad Atkins of Ecology's water quality program.
WCC members must be age 18 to 25. They earn minimum wage while on the job and receive college scholarships of $4,725 after completing the program.
"They also receive valuable training in the natural resource field, and they really make a tangible difference in the environment," Atkins added.
In addition to their work to improve stream health, WCC crews are trained to fight wildland fires and help the Red Cross respond to disasters.
Each year, the WCC provides thousands of hours of service to protect and enhance Washington's natural resources. Numerous public agencies rely on the hard work provided by the program.
WCC was modeled after the great Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930s and '40s, and was created in 1983 as a program within Ecology. This is just the second year Ecology has had a crew operating in Eastern Washington.
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Note to editors and news directors:
This story can be very visual. Please contact the following to arrange field stories and interviews.
Dept. of Ecology: Jani Gilbert, 509-329-3495; cell, 509-990-9177
Asotin County: Cheryl Sonnen, 509-758-8012
Adams County: Gary Devore 509-659-1553
Garfield (Pomeroy CD): Duane Bartels 509-843-1998
Spokane: Rick Noll 509-535-7274
Washington Conservation Corps program: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/sea/wcc/index.html
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
