Chehalis Basin Fisheries Task Force
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History
Since the early 20th century, fisheries in the Chehalis Basin have been a cornerstone of the economic foundation of the region. During the 1970's and early 1980's Washington's coastal fishing industry faced an intense economic and political storm while being torn between environmental and economic needs. Due to the over-harvesting, dams, habitat destruction, large-scale interception of Pacific Northwest Coho and Chinook salmon and offshore driftnets, populations of salmon and Steelhead from the Chehalis drainage system have been all but decimated.
In January of 1980, the Port of Grays Harbor recognized the need for greater cooperation among fishery user groups. They requested the Grays Harbor Regional Planning Commission explore the establishment of a task force to evaluate anadromous resources within the Grays Harbor watershed and recommend enhancement strategies.
The coalition envisioned by the Port was to be an alliance of appropriate federal agencies, state departments of Fisheries and Wildlife, local municipalities, public and private industries, tribal councils and commercial and sport fishing groups. They were mandated with the goal of increasing salmonid fish runs. It was believed that a united effort by affected groups and agencies could effect a solution. With this request, the Grays Harbor Fisheries Enhancement Task Force (GHFETF) was established in February 1980.
During that first year an action plan was prepared. An initial $25,000 was appropriated by the Port of Grays Harbor to fund fisheries enhancement projects. Grays Harbor Regional Planning assisted in the implementation of the plan by acting as the lead agency, referral source and monitor of fisheries enhancement issues. In 1982 the Commission published a status report of completed and proposed projects.
To administer funding requests and allocations regarding the balance of the original $25,000, the Port asked the Commission to reconvene the Task Force in early 1984 with the intent of disbanding the Task Force after the monies were allocated. However, due to the general consensus of the participants and the success achieved during its first four years of operation, the Task Force remained intact serving as a catalyst for continued coordination.
Salmon enhancement by volunteers was gaining momentum. In 1984, the Port of Grays Harbor allocated an additional $25,000 to enhancement efforts. By the end of that year funds were exhausted. By 1989 subsequent grants annually approved by the Port totaled $150,000. Matching amounts of volunteer labor, donated materials, equipment and money had exceeded $1.25 million (nearly a 10:1 community match).
The Task Force has sponsored over a dozen new projects since 1984. Numerous projects initiated prior to 1984 are still operating. Several earlier enhancement undertakings (e.g., the Satsop and Humptulips late native Steelhead projects) were terminated as natural fish returns had reached desired levels.
With these enhancements projects well established, the Task Force recognized habitat improvement as a key factor in increasing salmonid populations. Therefore, in 1987 habitat improvement was added to the coalition's mission statement.
In 1990 the Washington State Legislature created twelve (12) regional enhancement groups modeled after the GHFETF. This legislation expanded Task Force operations to encompass all water draining into Grays Harbor; including portions of eight counties.
The responsibilities of serving an
area of this size proved to be tremendous, as were the
opportunities. To assist with these growing demands, in June of 1990, the
Weyerhaeuser
Corporation granted employee Dave Hamilton a two-year paid leave of absence to
serve as Fisheries Coordinator. This resource allowed the Task Force to upgrade
operations and
administrative structure and expand it's operations throughout the Chehalis
Basin.
As the Task Force grew, it evolved to meet the changing needs of its members. A new administration and project coordination staff was created. The Board of Directors was expanded to represent the additional areas being served. The corporate name was changed to reflect the new boundaries and new and expanded funding sources were sought out.