Grandpa: You tell us to vote for a Republican, what a surprise, and then tell us to educate ourselves. Well maybe I can help educate a few concerned sportsmen. I got the following from the Washington Sportfishing PAC. A group you vigorously support. Perhaps you missed this?

Below is pasted an excerpt from Christine Gregoire's "Protecting Our Legacy: The Gregoire Plan for Washington's Economy." Of interest is her direct mention of recreational economic benefits and expressly mentioning that she would promote and expand recreational salmon fishing. For those of you with longer memories than I, correct me if I am wrong, but I think this is a first for a gubernatorial to expressly support sportfishing promotion and expansion. The full version of the write-up can be found on Gregoire's website (www.gregoire2004.com)





RESTORING AND PROTECTING

WASHINGTON’S RIVERS AND STREAMS

Washington’s economic prosperity and environmental health are directly linked to our rivers and streams and to Puget Sound. Our rivers such as the Columbia, Spokane, Skagit, Wenatchee and Nisqually are central to our heritage. We depend on water from streams for farming and food, power, industry, drinking water, fish and wildlife habitat, and recreation. While the benefits of hydropower, agriculture and industry are clearly understood, the economic benefits of clean water flowing in our streams are also significant and will become more so in the future. Recreational fishing contributed $1 billion to Washington’s economy in 2001. Wildlife viewing, such as Issaquah Salmon Days, the Skagit Bald Eagle festival, and the Othello Crane festival also contributed more than a billion dollars. Our state’s fish and wildlife depend upon clean and plentiful water. Unfortunately, 150 years of cumbersome and outdated water management has reduced stream flows in every watershed, leaving some rivers dry and many with inadequate water to support recreation, fish and water quality. Over time, water use has been authorized that exceeds the available supply. Current water use is not well documented or regulated, with many water rights no longer exercised and many ongoing water uses unpermitted. The current system is a bad combination of inadequate protections for stream flows and uncertainty and unpredictability for water users. While we have made significant gains in improving the quality of water in our state, we continue to face major challenges in keeping contaminants out of Puget Sound, Hood Canal, Lake Roosevelt, the Spokane River and elsewhere.

A sound environmental and economic future depends on our bringing certainty and clarity

to water management. We must:

Base our water decisions on sound science, developing better data systems and improving how we measure our use of water;

Provide economic incentives for more efficient use of water and nurture the development of an active water market;

Step up enforcement actions to protect streams and create a level playing field for farmers;

Set and achieve in-stream flows on a systematic basis;

Bring clarity and certainty to water right holders through a selective use of adjudications; Strengthen the government-to-government relationship with Washington Tribes;

Promote and expand recreational salmon fishing;

Explore and invest in environmentally sound water storage projects to ensure instream flow for fish and water availability for farmers and municipalities;

Develop and enforce modern rules to manage stormwater runoff; and

Increase investment in youth service programs based on the AmeriCorps model to help restore streams and protect water quality and fish habitat.

Sounds like a clear pro sports fishing adgenda with specific step to achieve results we need.