Petersen, Brian. 2003. Regional salmon recovery planning in Washington State. M.S.
In response to declining salmon runs and subsequent federal listings under the Endangered Species Act, the State of Washington has put forth a regional recovery planning strategy as a means to recover salmon in the state. This approach on a regional scale attempts to write and ultimately recover all the anadramous fish species listed under the Endangered Species Act in a specific region.
Seven recovery regions exist in the state and this study looks at the two efforts furthest along in the recovery planning process: the Puget Sound Shared Strategy (SS), and the Lower Columbia Fish Recovery Board (LCFRB). The primary focus of this research analyzes these approaches using Elinor Ostrom's Governing the Commons as the theoretical basis to see if they meet the eight design principles of a common pool resource (CPR) institution.
The study utilized a snowball sampling methodology to identify and interview 18 participants for the study. All the participants received the same questions from an interview guide developed specifically for this project that focused primarily on the design principles.
Both the SS and the LCFRB emerged in response to listings of species in their regions and have successfully organized a planning process that has broad representation and participation from interested stakeholders. But in terms of the design principles they are equivalent: they both fail to meet five of the design principles and thus do not represent CPR institutions.
The primary factor limiting their ability to meet all the principles is their lack of authority. The NMFS has the ultimate authority over the planning process and these efforts will not have the ability to organize and oversee the long-term implementation of the plans they write. Without having any authority they cannot meet the design principles and as a result, long-term species recovery remains questionable.
Devolving authority to these regional efforts would enable them to control and oversee the recovery process. Without authority these efforts will likely put together recovery plans that will not get implemented and which do not yield ultimate recovery of these species.