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FY2011-22 Supporting KRAA Lake Fertilization Efforts 1 Introduced by: Borough Assembly 2 Requested by: Kodiak Region Aquaculture 3 Association 4 Drafted by: Kodiak Region Aquaculture Association 5 Introduced on: 03/03/2011 6 Adopted on: 03/03/2011 7 8 KODIAK ISLAND BOROUGH 9 RESOLUTION NO. FY 2011 -22 10 11 A RESOLUTION OF THE KODIAK ISLAND BOROUGH ASSEMBLY 12 SUPPORTING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF LAKE FERTILIZATION OF KARLUK, 13 FRAZER, AND SPIRIDON LAKES BY THE KODIAK REGIONAL 14 AQUACULTURE ASSOCIATION AS A SALMON REHABILITATION AND 15 ENHANCEMENT METHOD 16 17 WHEREAS, the Kodiak Management Area salmon fishermen and the Kodiak Island 18 Borough have benefited greatly from salmon enhancement and rehabilitation programs; and 19 20 WHEREAS, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game has a Lake Fertilization Policy built 21 upon strong scientific research and intended to protect wild salmon populations and habitat; 22 and 23 24 WHEREAS, there is a strong body of scientific literature recognizing lake fertilization as an 25 effective method of improving sockeye salmon habitat and production; and 26 27 WHEREAS, lake fertilization has been successfully implemented by the Alaska 28 Department of Fish and Game and the Kodiak Regional Aquaculture Association to 29 rehabilitate and enhance sockeye salmon production of multiple Kodiak Archipelago Lakes 30 in the past; and 31 32 WHEREAS, lake fertilization projects have contributed to sustainable fisheries and 33 economic development that directly benefits Kodiak sport, subsistence, and commercial 34 fishermen, seafood processors, and the Borough government, which receives raw fish tax 35 revenues; and 36 37 WHEREAS, a number of Kodiak Archipelago lakes which have historically been major 38 sockeye salmon producers are currently in a depressed state of production; and 39 40 WHEREAS, among those depressed systems, Karluk, Frazer, and Spiridon lakes have 41 been identified as having strong potential for substantially increased sockeye salmon 42 production if lake fertilization projects are initiated; and 43 44 WHEREAS, the depressed sockeye production of these lakes has a devastating effect on 45 Kodiak's west side and south end salmon fisheries and negative impact on the Borough 46 economy and the five villages in the area; and 47 Kodiak Island Borough Resolution No. FY2011 -22 Page 1 of 2 48 WHEREAS, through the Kodiak Regional Aquaculture Association, Kodiak Management 49 Area salmon fishermen have committed significant funding to lake fertilization to restore 50 these fisheries; and 51 52 WHEREAS, the Borough has a history of providing support and funding for fisheries 53 development, and specifically for fertilization of Karluk and Frazer lakes; and 54 55 WHEREAS, local government support is a key factor in the State Legislature's 56 consideration of support and potential funding for local projects; and 57 58 NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, THAT THE ASSEMBLY OF THE KODIAK 59 ISLAND BOROUGH supports lake fertilization as a salmon rehabilitation and enhancement 60 method and supports the implementation of lake fertilization of Karluk, Frazer, and Spiridon 61 lakes by the Kodiak Regional Aquaculture Association as soon as possible; and 62 63 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, THAT THE ASSEMBLY OF THE KODIAK ISLAND 64 BOROUGH is committed to educating the community about the need, the benefits, and the 65 safety of lake fertilization projects and will submit letters of support for these projects to 66 State and Federal legislators and appropriate governmental agencies; and 67 68 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, THAT THE ASSEMBLY OF THE KODIAK ISLAND 69 BOROUGH supports the efforts of Kodiak Regional Aquaculture Association to obtain from 70 the U.S. Department of Interior a NEPA waiver, categorical exclusion, or statutory exemption 71 for the proposed projects, or otherwise facilitate an expedited review and permitting process, 72 so that lake fertilization can be implemented as early as May 2011; and 73 74 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, THAT THE ASSEMBLY OF THE KODIAK ISLAND 75 BOROUGH will allocate matching funds of up to $50,000 to Kodiak Regional Aquaculture 76 Association lake fertilization projects and will seek to procure additional funding for these 77 projects from the State of Alaska. 78 79 ADOPTED BY THE ASSEMBLY OF THE KODIAK ISLAND BOROUGH 80 THIS THIRD DAY OF MARCH, 2011 81 82 KODIAK ISLAND BOROUGH E I , j 86 ATTEST: Je me M. Selb :... .r 87 8 89 90 Nova M. Javier, MM , Borough Clerk Kodiak Island Borough Resolution No. FY2011 -22 Page2of2