Salmon-Safe: Peer-reviewed standards for the management of urban parks and natural areas Carrie Foss WSU Puyallup

Salmon-Safe in the Pacific Northwest n Agriculture & salmon n Salmon-Safe parks project n Expanding on the urban landscape

How land management impacts stream ecosystems n Introduction of sediment, energy, or chemicals n Stream channelization that reduces habitat complexity n Loss of riparian vegetation n Alteration of stream flows water diversions or excessive ground water pumping

Salmon-Safe started in 1995 with farm focus n Goal was the development of market incentives to reward agricultural conservation practices n Early task was development of ecologically robust farm certification program

Science-based farm certification n Riparian & wetland area management n Irrigation water use n Erosion & sediment control n Fertility and pest management systems n Animal management n Biological diversity

Drinking wine, saving salmon n Regional marketing of Salmon-Safe wine n Planting of cover crops to reduce erosion, a major cause of down- stream fish habitat degradation.

The Salmon-Safe campaign works for farmers n Marketplace response: 15-20% retail sales increase n Working to quantify economic benefits to growers

Introducing Salmon-Safe Parks Project

Salmon-Safe Parks Project n Advance restoration of Willamette River and its tributaries n Peer reviewed standards for certification of parks & natural areas n High profile public education campaign to engage urban residents

Key considerations for park system participation n Identification and provisions for protection of endangered species n BMPs implemented system-wide n Policy for new park design n Infrastructure restoration n IPM program n Field monitoring

Science-based Park Certification Standards n In-stream habitat protection and restoration n Riparian & wetland area protection n Water use management n Stormwater management n Erosion and sediment control n Chemical and nutrient containment

Becoming Salmon-Safe Certified n Application n System-wide management assessment n Site visits at randomly selected locations n Annual verification n Recertification every five years

n Park system includes 10,000+ acres, 244 sites n Formal assessment in Dec 2003 with independent certification team Certifying Portland Parks & Recreation

The Outcome: Provisional Certification Contingent upon meeting 10 restoration and planning conditions within 5 years

n 30 buses, 5 months n 15 billboards, 3 months of placement n Reaching 600,000 Portland area residents n Newspaper PSAs n Celebration event Media Campaign

Urban Expansion n Engaging other park systems from Seattle to Ashland n Beginning further urban expansion beyond parks: - college campuses - corporate campuses n Nike was first

Why Salmon-Safe Certification? n Third party validation n Technical assistance n Community and consumer recognition n Endangered species protection For more information