Re: “WA needs new rule to cool down waterways for salmon, orcas, more” (Aug. 14, Opinion) and “Forest & Fish Law: Yes to expanded forest buffer” (Aug. 24, Opinion):
I am responding to proponents of a proposed change in the Forest & Fish Law that would extend requirements for buffer strips to tiny feeder streams that don’t provide fish habitat.
Keeping water cool in summer is important to salmon, but so is food. Historically, our forests were more of a mix of hardwoods and conifers than they are today. Broad-leaf deciduous trees like alders, big leaf maple and cottonwoods not only provide shade but also nutrients in the form of leaf drop in the fall, which is the basis for much aquatic insect life.
Due to past forest management practices and fire suppression, the forests along most streams today are dominated by conifers like Douglas firs. A smart management strategy would cut out many of the conifer trees, making room for hardwoods. Yes, for a few years stream temperatures would be warmer, but the long-term benefits would be to have more productive water due to the contribution of fall leaves. Moreover, during the cold months fish actually benefit from sunlight penetrating the canopy, as water is too cold for optimal growth.
Buffer strips prevent forest managers from shaping the best habitats for fish.
John Marshall, Wenatchee
