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please contact the Volunteer Services Coordinator. Phone: (360) 902-2252 Fax: (360) 902-2157 Email: volunteers@dfw.wa.gov RFEG Information
RFEG Annual Reports Other volunteer information:
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Executive Summary Dedicated to Community-based Salmon Enhancement in Washington State The Regional Fisheries Enhancement Groups are a statewide network of non-profit community-based salmon enhancement organizations. In 1990, the Washington State Legislature created the Regional Fisheries Enhancement Group Program to involve local communities, citizen volunteers and landowners in the state’s salmon recovery efforts. The 14 Regional Fisheries Enhancement Groups (RFEGs) share the unique role of involving communities in salmon enhancement activities across the state. The RFEGs have a common goal of enhancing salmonid populations and habitat in their regions and leveraging contributions and support from local communities. The RFEGs create dynamic partnerships with local, state and federal agencies, Native American tribes, local businesses, citizen groups and landowners. Through these collaborative efforts RFEGs help lead their communities in successful enhancement, restoration, assessment, education and monitoring projects. Each RFEG works within a specific geographic region based generally on watershed boundaries (see map on page 10). Every group is a separate, non-profit organization led by their own board of directors and supported by their members. The RFEG Advisory Board, made up of citizens appointed by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Director, advocates for and helps coordinate the efforts of the RFEG Program. Individual donations and in-kind contributions from local community members and businesses are essential to the success of each RFEG. While partial funding for the RFEG Program comes from a portion of commercial and recreational fishing license fees and egg and carcass sales administered by the WDFW. Individual RFEGs also obtain many grants from other government and private entities. In recent years the RFEG Program has successfully worked with U.S. Representatives and Senators to secure funding from the US Fish and Wildlife Service. During the 2006-2007 fiscal year, the RFEGs collectively completed 234 projects ranging from education and outreach to monitoring and, of course, on the ground salmon enhancement projects. RFEG volunteers donated over 83,000 hours to these salmon enhancement efforts in 2006-07. Half of the RFEGs participated in fish production projects, releasing 2.6 million fish into local watersheds. 63 fish passage improvement projects opened 88 miles of habitat for migrating salmon. 13 miles of habitat was enhanced and restored for salmonids and 40,000 salmon carcasses were returned to streams to add nutrients to local watersheds for juvenile salmon, bears, eagles and over 130 other species of wildlife. Over a 12-year history, these accomplishments add up to:
The RFEG program makes a special contribution to Washington’s salmon recovery efforts by:
In addition to on-the-ground habitat restoration, outreach and education, Washington’s Regional Fisheries Enhancement Groups (RFEGs) regularly implement scientific monitoring programs to assess salmon populations, salmon habitat, and salmon habitat restoration projects. RFEGs use scientific protocols to measure project effectiveness, to quantify salmon populations, assess long-term impacts of projects, and analyze cost effectiveness of projects and progress. Scientific monitoring activities currently performed by RFEGs include:
RFEGs utilize staff, interns, volunteers, and contractors, in collaboration with the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife, and other agencies, to implement scientific monitoring protocols, projects, and programs. The monitoring activities of each RFEG are presented within their respective RFEG section in this report. |
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