By Scott Webb & Judy Schriebman
The future of coho salmon in California could be decided in March by the Marin County Board of Supervisors. They will be voting on a proposed Stream Conservation Area (SCA) Ordinance, which focuses on saving critical salmonid habitat in the San Geronimo Valley. Coho salmon populations have plummeted to 95 percent of their historic population numbers, driven by the loss of critical spawning habitat. The tiny nine-square-mile San Geronimo Valley makes up ten percent of the spawning habitat for central coast coho, making this one of the most vital coho habitats in all of California. Yet even in the Valley, the actual number of fish is tragically low — averaging only 250 adults returning to spawn each year. The fate of coho salmon in California is directly intertwined with the preservation of this riparian habitat.
In 2007, both the Salmon Preservation And Watershed Network and the Center for Biological Diversity sued the County over its proposed Countywide Plan that permitted excessive development on the streams — drastically diminishing the watershed spawning habitat. In response to environmentalists’ advocacy, the County elected to create a science-based SCA Ordinance to protect the streams from being overdeveloped. But over 14 years later, an effective SCA Ordinance has not materialized.
Unfortunately, the currently proposed SCA Ordinance does not fulfill its duty of protecting the streamside habitat in the San Geronimo Valley. The document lacks workable and clearly defined language that would allow homeowners and environmental advocates to understand how development will be regulated. The Board also needs to narrow the exceptions currently allowed and add in performance standards, enforcement provisions, and reporting mechanisms so the County can measure the Ordinance's success and monitor its implementation. We want to see an Ordinance that works clearly and effectively to save what little riparian habitat we have left, not just a paper document that unnecessarily burdens homeowners and the environment.
Warming oceans coupled with a higher probability of infrequent rain events are already creating an uphill battle for coho salmon. For this species to survive, we must protect what few unimpaired streams we have left. Take action by letting the Marin County Board of Supervisors know that they need to adopt a common-sense, science-based SCA Ordinance that follows the California Environmental Quality Act and protects salmonids for generations to come! Head to seaturtles.org/take-action-for-salmon to send your message.
Scott Webb is the Advocacy & Policy Manager for the Turtle Island Restoration Network and the Salmon Protection And Watershed Network; Judy Schriebman is the chair of the Sierra Club Marin Group.
Photo credit: Salmon Crossing sign near Lagunitas Creek watershed by Wayne Hsieh via Flickr Creative Commons (CC BY-NC 2.0).