04/04/2003 08:35 AM House FSH

HCR 10-RESTORATION OF RIPARIAN HABITAT                                                                                        
                                                                                                                              
CHAIR SEATON announced  that the next order of  business would be                                                               
HOUSE CONCURRENT  RESOLUTION NO.  10, Relating to  restoration of                                                               
riparian habitat that is vital  to the fisheries resources of the                                                               
state.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Number 2558                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE KELLY WOLF, Alaska  State Legislature, speaking as                                                               
the sponsor  of HCR 10,  offered the historical  perspective that                                                               
in   the  early   1990s  habitat   wasn't  talked   about  within                                                               
communities or  in departments [as  it is  today].  He  said that                                                               
understanding the  importance of riparian habitat  has grown over                                                               
the past  8 to  10 years.   He  indicated that  HCR 10  asks that                                                               
state agencies, federal  agencies, communities, and organizations                                                               
understand  that the  fishery resource  is an  important part  of                                                               
Alaska's traditional consumptive use  and enjoyment, and provides                                                               
income to the  state, saying that HCR 10 asks  for recognition of                                                               
this via "working together."                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Number 2466                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE WOLF  said a key phrase  that he liked to  use was                                                               
"it's easier  to educate than it  is to regulate."   He said that                                                               
HCR  10  promotes  stewardship  through  communities  and  allows                                                               
agencies  - federal,  state, municipalities,  and  boroughs -  to                                                               
expand their  ability to  protect riparian  habitat for  all user                                                               
groups.   He explained  that this  resolution is  about promoting                                                               
agencies' understanding  that there are options  for partnerships                                                               
with community groups that would  bring in corporate funding, and                                                               
promote restoration and the protection of the riparian habitat.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Number 2392                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE GUTTENBERG inquired  about the correlation between                                                               
HCR 10 and  Executive Order 107 (EO 107), saying  that HCR 10 was                                                               
based  on  healthy  habitat  and  fisheries,  while  EO  107  was                                                               
eliminating that program.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Number 2350                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  WOLF  replied that  EO  107  involved moving  the                                                               
Division of  Habitat and Restoration  from the  Alaska Department                                                               
of Fish  & Game  (ADF&G) to the  Department of  Natural Resources                                                               
(DNR), while HCR  10 was focused on agencies  working together to                                                               
raise the  awareness of the  importance of the  riparian habitat.                                                               
He noted  that the  governor has  acknowledged the  importance of                                                               
habitat and resources.   He said he would like to  keep HCR 10 as                                                               
far away from EO 107 as "China is from Alaska" or even further.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Number 2300                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  GUTTENBERG commented  that he  didn't know  if it                                                               
were possible [to separate the issues].                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Number 2280                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  WOLF asked  if  the committee  wanted  to view  a                                                               
portion  of a  videotaped  TV  program that  was  developed by  a                                                               
program that he [Representative Wolf] used  to run.  He said that                                                               
the  videotape   demonstrates  what  can  be   accomplished  from                                                               
cooperation and working together.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
[The  committee watched  a few  minutes of  a videotape  entitled                                                               
"Bringing the Nation to Alaska."]                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Number 2142                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE   WOLF  said   that   riparian  habitats   involve                                                               
partnerships, and  he explained that this  particular project was                                                               
done in  2001 as  part of the  "DOT Highway  Improvement Project"                                                               
and was done between mile 39  and 45 in Cooper Landing, involving                                                               
the development  of the gravel  pit as a  source of gravels.   He                                                               
said  the project  involved some  29  different agencies  working                                                               
together.  He  said the Youth Restoration Corps  was involved due                                                               
to  corporate   support  and  that  it   involved  137  sponsors,                                                               
nationwide.   There  were 84  teenagers from  around the  nation,                                                               
involving   10   states   including  Alaska   -   all   promoting                                                               
stewardship.   He added  that there was  no state  money involved                                                               
whatsoever.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Number 2090                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE OGG moved  to report HCR 10 out  of committee with                                                               
individual  recommendations  and  the  accompanying  zero  fiscal                                                               
notes.   There being no objection,  HCR 10 was reported  from the                                                               
House Special Committee on Fisheries.