The Oregon Natural Resources Report - Agricultural News from Oregon

June 1, 2009

Wyden, Merkley Applaud Obama Decision to Restore Salmon Recovery Money
By U.S. Senator Ron Wyden,
Portland, OR – Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today applauded the decision by the Obama administration to amend its budget to include $50 million for the Pacific Coast Salmon Recovery Fund.
“Since its inception in 2000, this fund has supported the health of Oregon communities, rural economies, and the waters of Oregon as well as salmon and steelhead populations,” Wyden said. “It was inadvertently left out of the budget and the Obama administration is to be commended for recognizing the oversight and agreeing to restore the funding.”

“Salmon recovery is key to Oregon’s rural and coastal economies and our state’s natural resource legacy,” Merkley said. “I applaud President Obama for restoring funding and boosting Oregon’s efforts to restore salmon health and revive local economies.”

Congress created the Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund (PCSRF) to contribute to the restoration and conservation of Pacific salmon and steelhead populations and their habitats. The money is used by the states of Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho and Alaska, and the Pacific Coastal and Columbia River tribes to supplement existing programs to foster salmon and steelhead recovery and conservation.