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Wednesday — February 25, 2004

Opinion Columns

Fund protection of stream channels

Guest opinion by SEN. CLINT STENNETT


Senate Minority Leader Clint Stennett, D-Ketchum, represents District 25 in the Idaho Legislature. Stennett welcomes comments. He can be reached by calling the toll-free number at the Statehouse, 1-800-626-0471, or go to the web site at: www.accessidaho.org and select "Legislature"; or by e-mail at: infocntr@lso.state.id.us or FAX at (208) 334-2116. Most weekends he can be reached at home: 726-8106 or FAX 788-4444.


The streams and rivers that support and protect Idaho's wildlife and recreation economy are again under siege. With the fiscal and economic setbacks we are facing, we have seen reductions in the budget of the Idaho Department of Water Resources. Originally funded with seven positions, the majority of the recent cuts at the department came out of the state Stream Channel Protection Program. The governor has directed all agencies to hold their budget lines which means more cuts are expected. Ultimately, we will lose the final vestiges of the program on July 1, 2004, if some action is not taken immediately.

Since the Stream Channel Protection Act was passed in 1971, we have seen the practices of channel dozing, stream straightening and the use of old cars, tires, broken concrete, old appliances and other refuse as bank protection virtually stopped. These practices have given way to techniques using combinations of logs, rocks, willows, fiber rolls and wetland sod that not only provide bank protection but enhance fish and wildlife habitat and aesthetics as well.

Section 404 of the Clean Water Act Program is administered by the Army Corps of Engineers. The section only covers fill material below the ordinary high water mark. Without the State Stream Protection Program, any stream, river or wetland in the state can be dredged without a state permit. The damage dredging causes is devastating. The federal program does not cover logging activities, dredging, mining, nor does it protect isolated waters such as Birch Creek, the little Lost River or a host of other streams statewide. Without the program, many streams can and will be destroyed.

The Department of Water Resources administers this program and is in danger of losing funding for the last two positions in the Stream Channel Protection funding. In the IDWR budget proposed by the governor, no money is dedicated to the program. Idaho cannot afford the loss of this program. Our rivers are critical to the aesthetic and economic well-being of the state. We must keep them healthy and the banks stable so fish and wildlife can flourish. Our quality of life in Idaho is enviable and we must maintain and nurture that quality. Healthy streams and rivers are the key component.

Lack of funding for this program is hurting our farmers, ranchers and the environment. Recently, I took the extraordinary step to testify to the Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee (which historically does not accept public testimony) to encourage them to restore funding for Idaho's Stream Channel Protection Act. By not funding this program we are turning over authority to the feds who will not work cooperatively with landowners to protect streams and rivers. In the past I have worked with the stream channel protection people at IDWR to rehabilitate the river through our ranch and found them to be professional, flexible, and easier to work with than the Army Corps of Engineers. The federal government is heavy on enforcement and light on helping landowners. To protect Idaho's landowners and fish and wildlife, this program should be made a priority.

You can help by contacting your legislators urging support of continued funding for the Idaho Department of Water Resources Stream Channel Protection program.


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The Idaho Mountain Express is distributed free to residents and guests throughout the Sun Valley, Idaho resort area community. Subscribers to the Idaho Mountain Express will read these stories and others in this week's issue.





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