Final Wild Salmonid Policy Environmental Impact Statement

The proposed Wild Salmonid Policy responds to the depressed status of wild salmonid populations in Washington. Many salmonid stocks are reduced relative to historic numbers as a result of habitat changes, excessive harvest, and other impacts. Stocks affected by genetic changes from hatchery operations or the effects of harvesting are at risk from genetic and life history changes. To ensure long-term conservation of such stocks and production of fish for human use and ecological integrity, the Department of Fish and Wildlife determined that the factors affecting wild salmonids should be identified and examined in a coherent and comprehensive Wild Salmonid Policy.

This Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) examines successes and risks caused by existing WDFW and tribal fish management activities including harvest management and hatchery operation. This FEIS also examines the habitat issues. The purpose of this examination is to allow the planning and development of comprehensive policy approaches to these subjects so that wild salmonids can be better protected and conserved, and rebuilt to contribute to fisheries.

The proposed Wild Salmonid Policy analyzed in this FEIS represents a programmatic approach to the factors that affect wild salmonids. The proposal anticipates tribal joinder in a policy, so that state and tribal fish management follows more uniform approaches to wild salmonids. Much of the proposal builds on current practices that are used in parts of Washington or elsewhere; in some respects the proposal would alleviate impacts or risks to wild salmonids inherent in some current practices. Accordingly, the proposal itself would alleviate current impacts to this part of the environment by leading to management actions that minimize such impacts.

This FEIS represents an initial planning phase of environmental review. When new actions are taken, such as undertaking new projects, adopting new rules, or taking other major actions with a likelihood of significant impacts to the environment, then additional environmental review may occur. The scope of such likely future actions is broadly found within the analysis of implementation strategies in this FEIS.

Where other agencies take actions that have the potential to adversely impact salmon or take actions designed to recover salmonids, this FEIS may be used as appropriate to such action. Of course, the law may require supplementation or additional environmental review.

A narrative summary of the alternatives is given at the beginning of Chapters II and III. Differences in the alternatives are listed in the Alternative Summary Matrix.