Kent,
My understanding was that as of earlier in the month the Commission
decided to continue using rotenone with the caveat of doing the study
and implementing new use guidelines. The state legislature had
planned to cut funding for the program and folks were encouraged to
write their reps to have funding restored. I haven't heard of the
outcome. Either way, use of rotenone was scrapped this year and
probably next until the study is done and the new rules are in place.
I haven't heard anything since earlier this month. Below are two
emails I received from the Washington State Council of FFF.
Tim
Moscow, Idaho
>If I remember correctly, wasn't director Koenings trying to
>discontinue rotenone use several months ago as a possible health
>hazard to agency employees?
>
>Kent Lufkin
***********
You can call and leave a message for your representative at 1 (800)
562-6000. Find out who your representative is and their email at
http://dfind.leg.wa.gov
<From: Public Affairs <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
April 7, 2001 Contact: Madonna Luers, (509)456-4073
Commission updates rotenone use, sets hunting seasons and rules,
provides economic assistance to commercial fishers
SPOKANE -- The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission asked for an
updated process to use rotenone for lake fishing improvement, set
2001 hunting seasons and rules, and provided economic assistance to
commercial salmon fishers at a two-day meeting that concluded here
today.
After a briefing on rotenone by Washington Department of Fish and
Wildlife (WDFW) staff, the Commission asked for an updated process to
continue using the natural chemical to improve lake fishing in
eastern Washington. As a result of a recent California federal
district court ruling, the process now needs to include a National
Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. That permit
procedure will need to be worked out with the Washington Department
of Ecology, and until then, no lakes will be treated with rotenone.
In addition to the new NPDES permit, the WDFW rotenone use program
will see an update of its 1992 Final Supplemental Environmental
Impact Statement under the State Environmental Protection Act, change
in application method, new monitoring of health and legal issues, and
expansion of public outreach.
By Commission request, WDFW will also produce a cost-benefit
comparison of using rotenone and trout fry stocking versus other
alternatives. "Rotenone is just one tool in our toolbox of ways to
improve fishing in Washington," said WDFW director Jeff Koenings.
"We'll keep it as a tool, but it needs updating."
**********
<From: "Robert Bates" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Hi All:
This is from the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission meeting April 6-7,
2001 in Spokane, WA
The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission is in favor of keeping rotenone
in biologists' tool kit for rehabilitating lakes. Rotenone has provided all
of us with some great fishing. For example, people on both sides of the
Cascades are going back to Lenice and Nunnally lakes after their last
rehabilitation. However, the money for rotenone was taken out of the WDFW
budget as part of overall budget reduction and worries about rotenone
safety. Rotenone safety has been reviewed by the Commission, and WDFW will
keep current on rotenone safety issues. If the money is not restored now it
will be another biennium before there can be action to plan rehabilitation
of our lakes.
Commission members say that the best way to get money back into the budget
is for anglers in the state to write, e-mail or phone their legislators ask
them to restore the funds. E-mail addresses, regular-mail addresses and
phone numbers were listed in the March 'Covering the Drift.' Let the
representatives and senators in your districts know how you feel. Below is
proposed wording for talking to them.
Dear ____________ :
At their April 6th meeting in Spokane, Washington the Washington Fish and
Wildlife Commissioners and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
(WDFW) Director agreed to keep rotenone in their fish management plans. To
do this they will have to take care of several administrative details, but
most important is restoration of $160,000 in rotenone funds.
We encourage you to support adding this money to the WDFW budget.
Yours Respectfully,
__________________
