DO YOU WANT TO FISH FOR SOCKEYE SALMON IN LAKE WASHINGTON THIS SUMMER?

Your help is needed to make sure sports anglers are not sitting on the beach this summer when a very large run of sockeye is expected to return to Lake Washington. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has said that without an additional $120,000 they will not allow a sports fishery to take place. Governor Gary Locke has included this amount in his supplemental budget request to the legislature. However, the legislature must agree and include the funds in their budget. Please, immediately, contact your Senator and two representatives to request their support for this funding. You can do this by calling 1-800-562-6000 and ask that a message be given to your legislators requesting they "Support including $120,000 in the supplemental budget for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to manage the 2004 Lake Washington sockeye salmon sport fishery." Under the new system, a toll-free call takes less than two minutes and all you have to provide is your name, address and phone number and give the above message. The receptionist will know your legislators and will send them an e-mail message for you. However, if you have a personal connection with one or more of your legislators, please call them directly. Time is of the essence so call right away.

Also leave the above message for Senator Joseph Zarelli, chair, Senate Ways and Means Committee; and Representative Helen Sommers, chair, House Appropriations Committee.