In our currently partisan legislative landscape, it is momentous to see a bipartisan bill that takes into consideration the concerns of everyone at the table. The newest solution to salmon recovery and riparian habitat – HB 1720 – is a mixture of ideas from both sides of the aisle and superior to the “buffer bills” from the last legislative session and the beginning of the current session.

The proposed bill sets out a plan for “fully voluntary, regionally focused” riparian habitat plans, acknowledges the programs currently in place like the Voluntary Stewardship Program (VSP) and the federal Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, and looks toward solutions for every part of our state’s vast and varied geography. 

The communities of tribal members and fishermen who rely on salmon for cultural ceremonies, food, and income, deserve to weigh-in on how stocks and habitats are maintained. Landowners affected by plans to increase stocks and improve habitat also deserve to have a say in what happens to their land.