WASHINGTON FOREST PROTECTION ASSOCIATION
The Forests & Fish Law is an historic, science-based set of forest practices regulations that protect 60,000 miles of streams running through 9.3 million acres of state and private forestland. In 2006, the Forests & Fish Law was endorsed by the federal government, through a statewide Habitat Conservation Plan. As one of the largest and most comprehensive pieces of environmental legislation in the U.S., the law is designed to fully comply with both the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the Clean Water Act (CWA) to protect Washington’s native fish and aquatic species and assure clean water compliance.
Working in Collaboration
The Forests & Fish Law was developed in collaboration with federal, state, tribal, and county governments and private forest landowners. Representatives from each of these groups worked together for 18 months to make changes to the forest practices rules to protect clean water and riparian habitat on non-federal forestland in Washington State. Changes were made to improve forest roads and culverts, enlarge buffer zones along stream banks, and identify and protect unstable slopes. An Adaptive Management monitoring program has also been put into place to test the effectiveness of the new rules.
Guided by Science
Adaptive Management
Adaptive Management is “learning by doing”—using the best available science to monitor and verify that forest practices are meeting standards set by the Forests & Fish Law. Forest practice rules monitored for their effectiveness at meeting resource objectives and are designed to change, if needed, based on peer-reviewed scientific study.
Cooperative Monitoring, Evaluation, & Research
CMER (Cooperative Monitoring, Evaluation and Research) is the science research arm of Adaptive Management and develops scientific information to inform policy makers and the Forest Practices Board, the group responsible for making changes to forest practices rules.
Strong Bipartisan Support from the Legislature
With strong bipartisan legislative support the Forests & Fish legislation (officially ESHB 2091) was passed on May 19, 1999. Former Governor Gary Locke signed it into law on June 7, 1999. This act directed the state’s Forest Practices Board to adopt permanent rules implementing forest and fish protection measures, effective July 1, 2001. On June 6, 2006, the State of Washington received approval for the 50-year Forest Practices Habitat Conservation Plan, which was accepted by Governor Gregoire on behalf of the State. A Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) is a long-term land management plan designed to protect endangered or potentially endangered plant and animal species and their habitats.
The Forest Practices Habitat Conservation Plan (FPHCP), set in motion by the Forests & Fish Law, is the largest multi-species HCP in the nation, protecting all native fish species, seven species of amphibians and 60,000 miles of streams on 9.3 million acres non-federal forestland in Washington.
See how the Forests & Fish Law practices regulations that guide the preservation streams running through state and private forestland.
