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.