Portland, Ore. (7 February, 2006) – The Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF) announced today that four other non-profit foundations, including the Hugh and Jane Ferguson Foundation, the Flintridge Foundations, and two additional unnamed foundations, each have made funding commitments that leverage BEF’s support for an innovative, long-term Model Watershed restoration and salmon recovery program in the Chinook River, Washington.

 “Following the establishment of the Chinook River Model Watershed Program in 2003, each of these foundations has stepped in to support BEF’s comprehensive, community-based restoration and monitoring strategy.  This demonstrates that other regional funders recognize the value of establishing and supporting long-term, science-based restoration programs that can demonstrate measured results and ensure the effectiveness of ongoing restoration investments,” said BEF’s Director of Watershed Programs, Todd Reeve.

The Chinook River Model Watershed Program is unique because BEF and the Washington-based Sea Resources organization have committed to implement a 10-year strategy that continuously tracks restoration progress and adjusts restoration strategies according to measured results.  BEF has dedicated 10-year funding to the project to make certain that essential scientific reviews and monitoring and evaluation actions take place over the full duration of the Model Watershed program.  The long-term approach, dedicated funding and scientific methodology assure that Sea Resources will be able to demonstrate accountability to the additional program funders and community stakeholders, whose ongoing support is fundamental to restoration success.

“Despite the financial challenge of committing 10-year funding to individual watershed restoration programs, we believed strongly that a Model Watershed approach—with independent scientific review, sustained monitoring, and a long-term funding commitment—would garner support as others learned of the approach and saw the potential to measure, document, and improve restoration strategies and success over time,” said Reeve.

There are few watershed restoration programs in the Pacific Northwest that have dedicated the resources necessary to ensure that essential monitoring and evaluation activities occur over time.  As a result, many watershed restoration efforts are unable to measure effectiveness or base restoration strategies and actions on verified results.  With grants from foundations such as Ferguson and Flintridge — and ongoing 10-year support from BEF — salmon recovery in the Chinook River will continue to be driven by science and measured results.  BEF is confident that over time, a long-term funding commitment combined with a scientific and results-based approach will enable increasingly effective and efficient use of the region’s limited salmon recovery dollars.

For detailed information about BEF’s watershed restoration history and work, please go to http://www.b-e-f.org/watersheds.  For more information on Sea Resources’ history and Chinook River watershed restoration, please go to http://www.inforain.org/salmoneducation/searesources.htm.

About Sea Resources

Sea Resources is a non-profit, community-based organization situated on the Chinook River in southwestern Washington. It was originally established in the mid-1960s by local fishing families and community members as a fisheries technology training center. Currently, Sea Resources emphasizes watershed restoration as its primary goal and demonstrates how a community-led effort can develop the expertise and skills necessary to restore watershed conditions and recover depressed salmon populations.

About BEF

The non-profit Bonneville Environmental Foundation was established in 1998. Through revenues generated from the sales of green power products, BEF supports its dual mission of restoring watershed ecosystems and supporting renewable energy.  BEF’s Model Watershed programs comprise 10-year commitments that provide funding for monitoring, evaluation, and scientific oversight. BEF’s long-term approach ensures that Model Watershed program partners apply scientific methodology and continuously track progress and improve strategies based on measured results.  BEF is an independent, 501(c)(3) charitable organization.  More information is available at www.b-e-f.org.