Senate Budget Puts Regional Fisheries Enhancement Groups at Significant Risk Page 96 of the 2/27/12 Senate budget, Item #12 Hatcheries, redirects funds from RFEG program to hatcheries
The Regional Fisheries Enhancement Groups (RFEGs) are a statewide network of non-profit community based salmon enhancement organizations. The program was created by the Washington State Legislature in 1990 to involve local communities in restoring depleted salmon runs throughout the state. Dedicated funding for the program comes from Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) through proceeds raised through the sale of fishing licenses and surplus hatchery fish. The program also receives funding from federal allocations. The RFEG program has played an integral role in salmon recovery over the past 20 years; yet our salmon stocks continue to struggle due to pressures associated with the four H’s (hatcheries, harvest, hydropower and habitat). If we are to continue the goal of rebuilding salmon populations, we must continue to receive support from the state and federal government. The RFEG program has collectively leveraged millions of dollars with its base (state and federal) funding, employed many Washingtonians, engaged and educated the public about salmon, and turned back the clock on decades of habitat degradation. Salmon recovery is a business that results in direct employment of RFEG staff, consultants, construction contractors and suppliers. In 2011, the RFEGs estimated that their work results in the creation of more than 170 jobs annually. The RFEG efforts have resulted in more robust salmon and steelhead populations (in certain cases) and increased fishing opportunities which can fuel otherwise struggling rural economies. In total, RFEGs have completed 3,190 salmon projects, contributed 1,159,505 volunteer hours, released 69.2 million salmon, and leveraged $144,234,575 in additional funding. Statewide, the Senate budget proposal would have immediate negative impacts. If the Senate budget passes as proposed, most of the 14 RFEGs are expected to close. The few potentially remaining RFEGs would be forced to greatly reduce their operations. As many as 65 RFEG employees could by laid off and millions of dollars would be lost to local economies around the state. As much as $12 million in state and federal contracts for restoration projects are at significant risk as many of the grants secured by RFEGs use the RFEG funding as match. Without these funds, the RFEGs would no longer to be able to develop and fund projects. Below are a few examples of the impact of the Senate budget on local Regional Fisheries Enhancement Groups.
In the fiscal year 11, Mid-Columbia Fisheries Enhancement Group spent $146,000 in RFEG funds and leveraged $888,500 in grants and donated services. Like other groups, the loss of state funds would cause a default on grant contracts, as there would be a lack of the required matching funds. This would force a layoff of staff (3.25 FTEs), suspension of contracts with local businesses who supply technical assistance, tools, materials and heavy equipment to help build our projects.
In fiscal year 11, Lower Columbia Regional Fisheries Enhancement Group spent $142,000 RFEG program funds to leverage (spend) an additional $2.1 million dollars of federal salmon recovery funds. This is the equivalent of 42 full time jobs that are directly attributed to the use of RFEG funds to leverage federal grant dollars. Lower Columbia RFEG uses RFEG funds to support 1.5 FTE’s and operational expenses. Leveraged funds support an additional 2.5 staff and direct project expenses, which in the last fiscal year amounted to $1.9 million dollars. The leverage ratio is 11-1 which means the group is very efficient at bringing other funds into the region and passing those funds through to local vendors.
In 2010-2011 South Puget Sound Salmon Enhancement Group (SPSSEG) spent $157,000 of RFEG funds and leveraged about $2.7 million (a ratio of $17 leveraged by every $1 of RFEG funds spent.) The group predicts a similar budget for the current fiscal year ($2.4 million) with plans to complete seven construction projects this year. SPSSEG primarily utilizes state funding to cover monthly expenses
including real costs like rent and employee payroll. Obviously losing access to the state fishing license and surplus salmon funds would cripple the organization as the group would not be able to cover operational expenses. Also, the group has over 40 funded projects (about $4 million) that are already underway, but may not be completed due to lack of match and capacity. Many of the project-based grants do not cover overhead expenses, which is why the RFEG "base" funds are so critical.
The Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group (HCSEG) has completed over 26 million dollars of salmon habitat restoration and research In Hood Canal over the past 18 years. The group is responsible for bringing attention to the low dissolved oxygen issues in Washington State which led to the select committee on Hood Canal being created and then the select committee on Puget Sound which in turn lead to the Puget Sound Partnership. The group also depends on the state funds to leverage other funding sources. For every dollar received from WDFW accounts, the HCSEG leverages over ten times.
Over the last twelve years the Chehalis Basin Fisheries Task Force has obtained over six million dollars in grant funds for on-the-ground project in the Chehalis Basin. In addition to these restoration projects, the group uses RFEG funds to employ two full time staff to manage the Satsop Springs Hatchery. Loosing these funds means the group will be forced to shut down the hatchery which contributes 80% of the catch in Grays Harbor. This would have a huge impact in the coastal area. The Chehalis Basin Fisheries Task Force also raises large trout for planting in the local lakes for WDFW in the very popular trout fishery that sells a tremendous amount of fishing licenses. This program would also be eliminated.
During the last fiscal year the North Olympic Salmon Coalition has worked with state, local, tribal and private partners to implement the Morse Creek Re-Meander project, the largest single restoration project on the Olympic Peninsula to date and one of the highest priority projects for salmon recovery outside the Elwha Dam Removal Project. With just $86,326 in RFEG funds, the organization was able to leverage an additional $1,604,727 in state, federal, local, private dollars and in-kind work. These dollars supported 22 projects. Within a year of this budget cut, the organization will be left to finish out existing contracts and close the doors. There simply are not enough private dollars to be raised in a rural community to replace the loss of RFEG base funding. 14 people will lose their jobs, 10 years of restoration planning in Discovery Bay will be left behind at a time when we are on the cusp of implementing some of the most sought after restoration projects for recovery of Summer Chum Salmon; over 20 years of partnerships and successes will come to a halt.
During 2011 the Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group worked with local landowners, partners, agencies and tribes to advance our mission of increasing local salmon populations in the Skagit, Samish and Island community watersheds. Last year alone we planted over 16,000 plants along 5 miles of waterways. We reached nearly 5,000 community members with our outreach programs and educated over 1,600 students through school programs. We protected over 19,000 acres of the Upper Skagit floodplain from knotweed infestation and nearly 8,000 volunteer hours were donated. Our projects and programs are having a valuable impact for very little state investment. We utilized $65,000 of state funds to leverage an additional $1.2 million dollars in grants, contracts, and donations. These dollars are used to pay our staff and contractors, buy local goods and services and ultimately improve salmon populations. Taking state funds out of our contract will destroy our ability to do this work immediately.
In recent years the Washington State Legislature has been involved in direct efforts to maintain and increase funding for the Regional Fisheries Enhancement Groups. In 2009, the legislature saw the positive impact the RFEG program has on salmon stocks, fishing opportunities, jobs and local economies and directed WDFW to work with the RFEGs and other stakeholders to improve revenue to RFEGs from the state contract for the sale and disposal of surplus salmon from state hatcheries. The effort was successful in facilitating a tenfold increase in revenue from this source, thereby ensuring the RFEG’s can continue to operate. This budget proposal reverses the
support the legislature has provided to the RFEGs and jeopardizes the significant investment made in salmon recovery. The RFEGs work at the local, grass roots level to accomplish salmon recovery work that the State and WDFW cannot and do not do. The RFEGs record of accomplishments is long and indisputable. Endangered species recovery projects are a critical component of compliance with the Endangered Species Act, as well as a means to prevent additional litigation against the state With over twenty years of investment of federal, state, local, and private business and community funds and assets in commitment to salmon recovery, this Senate budget proposal is in direct conflict with the state’s long term interests.