Watershed Management Plan - Mason County

Key Issues and Options – Habitat
Appendix
D
Appendix D. Key Issues and
Options: Habitat
Chapter 2 identified several issues concerning WRIA 16’s fish and shellfish
habitat. This appendix reviews each issue together with options, or possible
strategies, that could be pursued.
Several other entities and processes are addressing salmon and other fish
habitat in Puget Sound. Rather than duplicate these efforts, the WRIA 16
Planning Unit is interested in providing support and encouragement to help
build momentum and a regional consensus. Accordingly, this chapter will
include options to publicly endorse particular topics or strategies that could
be pursued by the entities implementing other habitat plans, particularly
Shared Strategy’s Puget Sound Salmon Recovery Plan (Shared Strategy, 2005a),
the Hood Canal Coordinating Council’s Salmon Habitat Recovery Strategy
(HCCC, 2004) and Summer Chum Recovery Plan (HCCC, 2005).
Nevertheless, the Planning Unit has also considered some additional
options that apply particularly to WRIA 16. These options will also be
presented in this appendix.
Please note that as in other options appendices, the inclusion of an option
in this chapter does not necessarily indicate its endorsement or
recommendation by the Planning Unit. Rather, the Planning Unit strove to
include and consider a wide variety of options. As a result, any credible
option suggested in Planning Unit meetings was included in this plan for
consideration and evaluation.
This appendix begins by discussing two options that apply broadly to all
habitat issues identified by the Planning Unit, and then proceeds to discuss
options for specific issues. Note that high stream temperatures is an
additional issue that affects fish habitat; options to address this issue are
discussed in the Water Quality appendix.
Option 71.
Support organizations implementing salmon
recovery plans
Several entities are implementing recovery plans for salmon and other fish
in the region. The Planning Unit could offer broad support and
endorsement for the efforts of the various entities, including the Hood
Canal Coordinating Council, the implementers of Puget Sound’s Shared
Strategy, and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Option 72.
Purchase and restore key properties for habitat.
Riparian habitats can be adversely affected by land use activities associated
with transportation, development, forest practices, residential development,
and agriculture. Purchasing properties that provide ideal habitat for salmon
Final Plan for County Adoption – May 11, 2006 page 133